Do i have ed test

Symptom Checker Quiz: Do I Have Erectile Dysfunction?

Most men will experience difficulty getting or maintaining an erection at one time or another — but at what point does it become erectile dysfunction? Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is a pattern of ongoing difficulty with achieving or keeping an erection during sexual intercourse.

How Do I Know If I Have ED?

Most people are able to identify the primary symptoms of ED on their own. You likely have ED if you experience persistent trouble getting or keeping an erection, often along with reduced sexual desire.

Occasionally, ED can be connected to more serious underlying conditions like diabetes or heart disease, and individuals with these or other conditions linked to ED should pay close attention to new and changing symptoms. While ED is not typically dangerous to one’s physical health, it can take a psychological or emotional toll by causing stress, anxiety and shame that can affect one’s relationships. Talk to your doctor to find a treatment solution that can alleviate these challenges.

How to Test for ED at Home

A good first step is to assess your current symptoms (taking our quiz below is a great way to do this). If they align with common symptoms of ED outlined in the quiz, you’ll want to see a medical professional for a confirmed diagnosis.

5 Questions to Ask Your Doctor About ED

While there are at-home tests available for ED, most doctors don’t advise self-diagnosis for erectile dysfunction using a self-test method. These tests are useful in providing an initial indication, but they may yield inaccurate results.

Why Take an Erectile Dysfunction Quiz?

An erectile dysfunction quiz can be a great starting point for assessing the possibility of an ED diagnosis. Although they cannot provide a medical diagnosis, online diagnostic questionnaires can help you and your doctor gain a better understanding of your current symptoms, how they’re impacting your day-to-day life and whether or not you should be tested for erectile dysfunction.

What an Erectile Dysfunction Quiz Can Tell You

This quiz, based on the SHIM IIEF-5 questionnaire, can be used to get an initial understanding of common symptoms of erectile dysfunction. Based on your answers to five key questions, your score can help you determine whether you may be experiencing severe, moderate, mild to moderate, mild or no signs of ED.

Take Our Quiz: Do I Have Erectile Dysfunction?

Wondering if you may be suffering from erectile dysfunction? This online quiz can help you assess whether your current symptoms align with common symptoms of ED, but should always be followed up with an official diagnosis from a medical professional. When answering the questions below, respond as truthfully as possible for the most accurate results.

Over the past six months, how confident are you that you could get and maintain an erection?(Required)
- Very low
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high

Over the past six months, when you experienced erections with sexual stimulation, how frequently were your erections hard enough for penetration?(Required)
- Almost never or never
- Much less than half the time
- About half the time
- Much more than half the time
- Almost always or always
Over the past six months, how frequently were you able to maintain an erection after penetrating your partner?(Required)
- Almost never or never
- Much less than half the time
- About half the time
- Much more than half the time
- Almost always or always
Over the past six months, how difficult was it to maintain your erection to completion during intercourse?(Required)
- Extremely difficult
- Very difficult
- Difficult
- Slightly difficult
- Not difficult
When you attempted sexual intercourse over the past six months, how often was it satisfactory for you?(Required)
- Almost never or never
- Much less than half the time
- About half the time
- Much more than half the time
- Almost always or always

Adapted from Rosen RC, Cappelleri JC, Smith MD, Lipsky J, Peña BM. Development and evaluation of an abridged, 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction (IIEF-5) as a diagnostic tool for erectile dysfunction. Int J Impot Res. 1999;11:319-326.

Can you test for ED at home?

Doctors do not advise that people test for erectile dysfunction (ED) at home using a self-test method. Although these tests may provide an initial indication, they are inaccurate and cannot diagnose the condition.

Various methods of self-testing for ED are available online, and there are many others that people have used in the past. However, experts strongly advise that anyone who thinks they may have ED speaks to a doctor for a correct diagnosis.

However, understanding the symptoms ED and knowing what signs to look for can benefit people who think they may have the condition.

Share on PinterestA person may have ED if they have a frequent inability to get or maintain an erection.

People with ED are unable to get or maintain an erection for sexual intercourse.

An erection occurs during arousal when the brain sends signals to increase blood flow to the penis. The penis swells with blood and becomes erect.

Sometimes, a person will be unable to get an erection, even while experiencing arousal. Other times, they might get an erection that is too soft or does not last long enough for satisfactory sexual intercourse.

Many people will experience this from time to time. Many factors can influence the ability to get an erection, such as tiredness or alcohol consumption.

However, people with ED will experience this most times they want to have sex.

While doctors do not advise that people test for ED at home, recognizing the signs can be a useful first step for those who think they may have ED. This might help them determine whether they should visit a doctor about their problem.

It is not always clear when someone has ED but some signs of ED to look out for include:

inability to get or maintain an erection on most occasions of sexual activity
low self-esteem
depression or anxiety
stress
relationship difficulties

Certain health conditions can also cause ED. These include:

high blood pressure
diabetes
heart disease
high cholesterol
obesity

People who are physically inactive and smoke are also more likely to have ED.

A doctor will usually diagnose ED after checking symptoms and medical histories. They might order blood tests to check for signs of an underlying medical problem.

Learn more about ED, including further information on the symptoms and causes here.

In the past, people used a range of self-testing methods for ED. However, doctors do not recommend these self-tests as they are highly inaccurate.

NPT Test

One form of ED home test that people used in the past was the Nocturnal Penile Tumescence (NPT) test.

The test involved sticking a roll of stamps around the penile shaft overnight. Men without ED will usually experience erections during their sleep. A man with ED likely will not.

An erection would break apart the roll of stamps around the penis. If the roll of stamps was still intact in the morning, it might indicate that the person did not have an erection during the night. However, this does not indicate that a person has ED.

Although there are no real risks or side effects, the NPT test is far from accurate, and doctors and medical professionals have discounted it.

Sexual health inventory for men (SHIM)

SHIM is probably the most accurate way to diagnose potential ED. It is a questionnaire that can provide a good indication of whether a person may or may not have ED. A doctor can carry this out in their office, but people can also do it at home.

You can find an example of the questionnaire here.

To receive an accurate diagnosis for ED, a person will need to see a doctor. A doctor will assess their medical history to identify whether they have any underlying conditions that can cause ED, such as heart disease. They may also take blood and urine samples to perform further tests.

Some people will experience ED due to emotional or psychological reasons. In these instances, people can still have an erection — and may break the stamps in the NPT test — but may still have ED.

A doctor may ask questions about mental health or stress to check for this. People experiencing psychological or emotional problems may benefit from psychotherapy. A doctor might also suggest medications such as antidepressants.

Many people experience ED.

Many people will experience not being able to get an erection or maintain an erection for sexual intercourse at some point. However, people with ED experience this problem frequently.

Doctors often find it challenging to determine whether ED, an underlying condition, or another factor is causing a person’s inability to have or maintain an erection.

Previously, the NPT stamp test was a way to check for signs of ED without going to a doctor. However, medical professionals have discounted this method because it is far too inaccurate. Instead, people can try a SHIM questionnaire as a form of initial self-assessment of ED.

If a person is concerned about ED, they should talk to a doctor or healthcare provider.

Test for mental disorders

The human psyche is so amazing that it is hardly possible to say something irrefutable, the only correct one about it. This gives rise to many theories and diagnoses. And given the crazy pace of modern life, it is not surprising that the number of people with neurosis or psychosis has increased significantly. This test for mental disorders will help recognize signs of abnormalities or a predisposition to them, if any.

1. Is there anything that you fear so much that it really poisons your life and prevents you from enjoying it?

Yes, it is fear for my future or the future of my loved ones, increased fear of death.

Sometimes I am very worried about the future, and sometimes I am afraid of conspiracies against myself, persecution. There are also moments when I realize that I am not afraid of anything at all.

Sometimes I'm afraid of what's going on in my head. Sometimes I'm scared because I feel like I'm seeing, feeling, or hearing something that doesn't exist or that no one else notices.

I am constantly anxious, I often have frightening or nervous thoughts in my thoughts, which are very difficult for me to get rid of. Often they are groundless.

I have a few fears, like all people, but in general they do not interfere with my life.

2. How often do you have insomnia?

Often. Although there is no objective reason for this, I just lose sleep. This state lasts for weeks, and even months with short breaks.

Sometimes I can not sleep at all for several days in a row because I am bursting with inner energy. On those days, I feel like I don't need sleep at all.

No/mild insomnia, but it is often difficult to know when sleep ended and wakefulness began or vice versa.

I very often cannot fall asleep under the influence of disturbing, terrifying thoughts for which there is no objective reason.

In general, I have a normal sleep, and if insomnia occurs, then it happens not so often and always has a reason (stress, disturbed sleep schedule, acclimatization, etc.).

3. Do you have a strong long-term desire to avoid contact with anyone, even those closest to you?

Yes, I don't want to see anyone at all, and this goes on for weeks.

Sometimes this feeling happens, but then everything changes dramatically, and I become an oversociable and very active person.

I sometimes want to isolate myself from other people. And if I do, then I feel strange, as if everything around me is unreal. Unusual images, visions may appear.

This desire arises when I want to punish myself or when I think that association with people can put my life in serious danger.

I may have a desire to be alone with myself, but it does not last more than a couple of days.

4. Are there things, people, or activities that can quickly and permanently distract you from anxiety, bad mood, or even calm you completely?

No, lately nothing makes me happy, and I lose interest in everything that made me happy before.

I have protracted states when nothing can improve my mood. And then I enter another “mode”, and it becomes difficult for me to concentrate, there is chaos in my head, I take on everything at once.

Yes, but most often my mood changes when I suddenly start hearing voices or seeing signs that speak of my exclusivity. Then I feel like a chosen person.

Yes, these are short but systematic activities that I need to do all the time when I'm worried about something. I understand that I cannot refuse to perform these tasks, I am obliged to do them.

Yes. As a rule, this is the support of loved ones, favorite hobbies, memorable or just pleasant things (graduation photo album, delicious food, good music, etc.).

5. Choose the statement that best suits you.

My affairs, appearance, health, social status are often completely indifferent to me.

I had periods when I obsessively followed other people, believed that there was a conspiracy around me, or suddenly began to search for life-threatening, extreme sensations.

Sometimes I have hallucinations or delusions. Sometimes it is very difficult for me to distinguish the real from the fictional. I do not always distinguish between dream and reality.

I have these “rituals” that I must follow, even if I may be late for work, a flight, or miss an important meeting. This is something like shifting small objects one at a time, meaningless actions, accurately counting objects, etc.

None of the above, or symptoms are subtle.

6. Have you ever thought about intentionally hurting yourself physically?

Yes, I have a desire to mutilate myself or commit suicide.

Such a desire periodically appears, and it lasts for a long time, but then abruptly disappears.

Sometimes I hear voices or other people's thoughts telling me to do something bad to myself.

Under the influence of anxiety, fear, panic, I sometimes cause physical harm to myself without noticing it at first (I scratch the skin until it bleeds, hit, pinch myself). Or I have an obsessive fear of death, infection, injury.

No, I have no such thoughts or intentional desire to hurt myself.

7. How often do your thoughts become negative, pessimistic, or anxious, and you feel overwhelmed?

Often, and such states last for weeks, I cannot do my usual business, I lose interest in old hobbies.

Often and for a long time, and then something suddenly “switches” in me, and I become noticeably more active, more cheerful, I can do in a week what I could not do for months.

Sometimes, while concentrating, remembering something, and thinking in general, it becomes difficult. Sometimes I see strange things.

Systematically. I can't get my mind off these thoughts. At such moments, I begin to perform repetitive actions that calm me down.

Everything, like everyone else. Sometimes I have negative thoughts, but they have specific reasons.

8. Have you ever been diagnosed with any of the following by psychotherapists/psychiatrists?

Depression (any type).

Bipolar disorder (BAD).

Schizophrenia or its varieties.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

None of the above.

9. Can you give clear logical explanations for most of your actions?

I can't see enough valid reasons to explain my depressed mental state and emaciated physical state.

I don't know how to explain why I can be depressed for half a year and then become a very energetic person for the next weeks or months.

I can understand the reasons for my actions (although not always), but they are not always logical, and I feel that others around me cease to understand me.

Some of my actions defy logic at all, but I know that I simply have to do them, otherwise something bad will happen.

In general, yes. I can explain most of my actions from a logical point of view.

10. Does it happen that others consider your actions or words to be very strange and definitely not normal?

Yes, they think that my apathy and depressed mood are inadequate reactions.

Yes, sometimes they say that I behave like a real psycho-maniac, although they sometimes say that I have a terrible depression that requires the intervention of a doctor.

Sometimes they literally do not understand my language, they ask me to repeat words or whole sentences, they say that there is absolutely no logic in my reasoning and that this is a sign of deviation.

Yes, they do not understand the reasons for my actions at all and consider me paranoid with unhealthy perfectionism.

Generally not. Sometimes I have misunderstandings with others, but there is nothing critical in them.