Absence of Nocturnal Penile Tumescence: An Earlier Sign of Erectile Dysfunction and Its Linked Comorbid Conditions

Abstract

Most of the patients with vascular and metabolic disorders such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), hypertension, diabetes, obesity, or stroke show some kind of abnormal erectile function (EF) significantly affecting the quality of life (QoL). There is a direct link between person's sexual health and physical health. Nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT), the involuntary erections occur during sleep, are the normal physiological and spontaneous phenomenon in all healthy men. Nocturnal penile tumescence measurement expedites the procedure of differentiating organic causes of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men from psychological causes. Absence of NPT can precede ED and its related comorbid conditions and should be given importance during early clinical diagnoses of such disorders.