Ultrasound for ED in Cleveland, OH

If you are concerned about your erections, further help is available. Dr. Thirumavalavan is a board-certified urologist with extensive experience diagnosing and treating Erectile Dysfunction.  When lifestyle changes and medications are not enough, it may be time for further diagnostic testing.  A penile doppler ultrasound helps to diagnose the root cause of your ED by evaluating blood flow in the penis. Call (216) 285-5036 to schedule an appointment at our urology clinic in Cleveland today!

What is a Penile Doppler Ultrasound?

An ultrasound of the penis can be helpful to assess the structures inside the penis and to look at the blood flow in and out of the penis. It is performed in patients with erectile dysfunction not responsive to medications, curvature or scarring of the penis, trauma, or prolonged erections. The whole appointment usually takes about an hour.

Erections occur when blood vessels that bring blood into your penis relax, causing your erectile bodies to fill up. The outflow of blood through small veins is also blocked.

How is the Procedure Performed?

To perform the ultrasound, a tiny syringe is used to inject medicine into your penis that will give you an erection. These medications are over 10 times stronger than any oral medication for erectile dysfunction. After 10 to 30 minutes, we assess how you responded to the injection. If you have a poor response, we will sometimes inject a stronger medicine. Once erect, we will measure any curvatures of your penis. Measurements of the size of your arteries as well as the blood flow will be taken. We will also look for any plaques or other abnormalities on the ultrasound. After the ultrasound, we will have you wait in the office until you are not fully erect, and sometimes we will inject you with a medicine to reduce your erection.

What are the Risks Associated with Penile Doppler Ultrasound?

Though they are rare, risks of penile ultrasound include bruising at the site of injection or a  prolonged erection. If you become erect for >4 hours at home, please call us or go to the nearest emergency room.

Treatment Options Based on Your Results

Depending on your response to the injection, we can teach you how to perform these injections at home, when you want to obtain an erection, or we can discuss surgical options such as penile prostheses. If you have a significant penile curvature or plaque noted during the ultrasound, we can discuss options to fix these as well.