How to Find a Good Urologist For ED

Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is a common sexual issue that can have a major negative effect on your wellbeing and quality of life.

If you suffer from erectile dysfunction, you might find it difficult or impossible to get and maintain an erection sufficient for sexual activity. This can have a serious impact on your sex life, as well as your feelings of sexual desire and general wellbeing. 

Men of all ages can potentially develop erectile dysfunction. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, more than 30 million men in the United States are affected by some degree of ED.

If you often find it difficult to develop or maintain a normal erection, you might have considered meeting with a urologist to talk about your symptoms. 

Below, we’ve explained how urologists diagnose and treat ED, as well as the steps that you can take to find and schedule an appointment with a urologist in your area.

We’ve also discussed the other options that are available if you’d like to treat ED, from meeting with your primary care provider to accessing ED pills online. 

What Is a Urologist?

Urology is a field of medicine that involves treating diseases and conditions that affect the male and female urinary tract, as well as the male reproductive system.

This part of the body consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladders and urethra, as well as the male testes, penis, prostate and scrotum.

A urologist specializes in this field. Some urologists also focus on subspecialties, such as male infertility, urologic cancers or other conditions that affect the urinary system.

Urologists often treat erectile dysfunction. In fact, since ED is one of the most common sexual problems for men, many urologists have a large amount of experience diagnosing and treating this particular issue. 

How to Find a Urologist for ED

Finding a urologist typically isn’t a difficult process. According to data released by the American Urological Association, more than 13 thousand urologists currently practice in the US, meaning you’ll usually be able to choose from several urologists if you live in a midsize or large city.

You can find a urologist to treat erectile dysfunction by:

• Asking your primary care provider for a referral. Your primary care provider should be able to refer you to a urologist. In some cases, they may be able to provide several recommendations for you to choose from.

• Contacting your insurance provider. Your insurance provider will be able to suggest urologists that participate in your insurance plan. Choosing one of these urologists can help to reduce your out-of-pocket costs.

• Contacting your local hospital. Most hospitals have a urology department that should be able to provide assistance and schedule an appointment for you. If not, they may be able to refer you to a local urology practice.

• Searching online. Many urologists and urology practices are easy to find online with a simple Google search. Try searching for “urologist in [your location]” and contacting the businesses that are listed in the search results.
  Be sure to check previous patients’ reviews and feedback before choosing a urologist or other healthcare provider online.

• Using the Urology Care Foundation’s database. The Urology Care Foundation has a convenient online Find a Urologist tool that you can use to search for qualified urologists by state, city or postal code.

What Does a Urologist Do to Check for Erectile Dysfunction?

Most of the time, a urologist will be able to diagnose erectile dysfunction by talking to you about your symptoms. 

During your appointment with a urologist, you’ll likely need to talk about certain aspects of your sexual history and general sexual activity. These may include questions about:

• How confident you feel about your ability to achieve an erection.

• How firm your erections are, as well as how often you’re able to achieve and maintain an erection firm enough for normal sexual function.

• Your general level of sexual satisfaction, particularly whether you’re usually able to reach orgasm and ejaculate during penetrative sex.

• Whether you get morning or nocturnal erections (often referred to as morning wood).

• Whether or not you have risk factors for erectile dysfunction, such as vascular disease, a lack of exercise or diabetes. 

• Whether or not you currently use any over-the-counter or prescription medications.

• Whether or not you use alcohol, cigarettes, nicotine products and/or illicit drugs.

It’s important to provide truthful, accurate information to your urologist. While it might feel a little awkward to talk about your sex life with a stranger, remember that they specialize in this field of medicine and need accurate, detailed information in order to help you. 

Your urologist may also ask certain questions about your personal health history, or ask you to complete certain tests during your appointment. These include:

• Taking a medical history. Your urologist might ask about your general medical history, including whether or not you suffer from any physical health conditions or psychological conditions that could cause or contribute to ED.

• Physical examination. Your urologist may perform a physical examination to check for signs of health issues that could contribute to ED. This exam may involve inspecting or touching your penis, chest and other areas of your body.
  Examining your body may help your urologist identify reduced penile sensitivity, low or abnormal hormone levels, high blood pressure and other issues that could affect your sexual health.

• Blood and urine tests. You may be asked to provide a sample of your blood or urine for analysis. Blood and/or urine testing can help to identify hormonal deficiencies and other underlying medical conditions that can cause ED, such as diabetes or heart disease.

• Penile Doppler ultrasound. You may be asked to undergo a Doppler ultrasound test, either in your urologist’s office or a medical center. This type of test involves the use of imaging to measure blood flow throughout your penis blood vessels. 

• Intracavernosal injection testing. Your urologist may inject medication into your penis to produce an erection, then evaluate its firmness. This type of test could help to identify poor blood flow, nerve damage or other issues that can contribute to ED. 

Depending on your symptoms and the severity of your ED, you may need to complete additional tests for an accurate diagnosis. Our guide to diagnosing erectile dysfunction talks about these in more detail and explains why they’re important for an accurate diagnosis.

How Erectile Dysfunction is Treated

Erectile dysfunction is almost always treatable. To treat your erectile dysfunction, your urologist might suggest making changes to your habits and daily lifestyle to improve your sexual function and overall wellbeing. 

Common lifestyle changes for improving your erections include eating a balanced diet, keeping yourself physically active, limiting your alcohol consumption, quitting smoking and adding pelvic floor exercises to your daily routine.

We’ve discussed these techniques and provided some actionable tips that you can use to assist with adequate blood flow to your penis in our guide to naturally maintaining an erection. 

If you have an underlying medical condition that’s contributing to your erectile dysfunction, your urologist may suggest treating it.

Common physical conditions that can cause ED include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) and injuries caused by prostate cancer surgery, radiation therapy or other medical procedures.

Some hormonal issues, such as low levels of testosterone, can also affect your erectile function and sexual health.

ED can also occur as a result of Peyronie’s disease, a disease in which fibrous scar tissue can develop inside your penis. This tissue may cause difficult or painful erections. 

Many of these conditions are treatable. In certain cases, your urologist may also refer you to a specialist healthcare provider for further care and attention.

If appropriate, your urologist may suggest using medication to make getting and maintaining an erection easier. 

Currently, there are four oral medications that have received approval from the FDA to be used as ED treatments. These include sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra®), tadalafil (Cialis®), vardenafil (Levitra®) and avanafil (Stendra®).

These medications, which belong to a class of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors, work by increasing the inflow of blood to the erectile tissue inside your penis. This additional blood flow can make it easier to get and stay erect during sexual arousal. 

In some cases, ED can be treated through therapy and other forms of mental health care. If you have psychological erectile dysfunction, your urologist may recommend meeting a mental health provider to discuss your needs.

Other treatment options for ED include injectable medications, vacuum erection devices and, in some cases, penile implants that are placed surgically. These forms of treatment may be used when medications and lifestyle changes alone aren’t fully effective at preventing ED.

You can learn more about these forms of treatment in our full guide to the treatment options for erectile dysfunction. 

Other Than a Urologist, Who Else Can You Talk To?

Urologists specialize in diseases and conditions that affect your urinary tract and reproductive system, making them a great source of information about erectile dysfunction.

However, you don’t always need to visit a urologist to get treatment for ED. Erectile dysfunction is a common, well-known condition that can be diagnosed and treated by a range of healthcare providers. 

Other ways to seek treatment for ED include: 

• Contacting your primary care provider. Most of the time, your primary care provider will be able to diagnose erectile dysfunction and, if appropriate, prescribe medication to treat your symptoms.
  If your symptoms appear to be related to your mental or hormonal health, your primary care provider may refer you to a mental health professional or endocrinologist for more specialized assistance.

• Talking to a healthcare provider online. If you’d prefer not to talk about ED in person with your primary care provider, you can talk to a healthcare provider about treatments for erectile dysfunction from your home via an online ED consultation.
  If appropriate, you may receive a prescription for evidence-based medication to treat ED and improve your sexual performance. 

The Bottom Line on Seeing a Urologist for ED

Erectile dysfunction is a common issue that can develop in men of all ages. If you find it difficult to develop or maintain an erection, meeting a specialist in men’s reproductive health, such as a urologist, can help you to learn more about your options.

A urologist can accurately diagnose erectile dysfunction and provide expert advice on the most effective ways to treat your symptoms and improve your sexual function. 

To find and contact a urologist, try using the tips listed above. Alternatively, you can access our range of FDA-approved erectile dysfunction medications online, following a consultation with a licensed healthcare provider who will determine if a prescription is appropriate.