Health Information
Tests for Erection Problems
How To Prepare
Nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) test
Do not take any medicines that cause an erection, such as sildenafil (for example, Viagra), tadalafil (for example, Cialis), and vardenafil (for example, Levitra), before the test.
Do not drink alcohol or take sleeping pills for 2 days before you have a nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) test. The alcohol and the pills can change your deep (REM) sleep time, which can affect nocturnal erections.
Intracavernosal injection test
If you are having an intracavernosal injection test, tell your doctor if you:
- Are allergic to any medicine.
- Have any bleeding problems or are taking blood-thinning medicine, such as aspirin or other Reference nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) Opens New Window, warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), or ticlopidine (Ticlid).
- Have ever had an erection lasting more than 3 hours (Reference priapism Opens New Window).
Doppler ultrasound
You may be asked to avoid products that contain nicotine (cigarettes, chewing tobacco) for 30 minutes to 2 hours before the test.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference May 14, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology, Oncology |
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