Ultrasonography of penis blood flow

A color-Doppler examination of the penis

The circulation origin of erectile dysfunctions and Doppler ultrasonography

Some of the erectile dysfunctions are caused by the circulation disorders of the penis. These may affect the arterial or the venous flow of the penis or possibly both.

Both the increased flow in the penile arteries and the temporary decrease of the venous flow are required to the normal erection.

Erectile dysfunction may be caused by the decreased flow in the arteries as well as the increased flow out of blood through the leaking veins (that is called “venous leakage” in the literature).

The flow conditions within the vessels are judged by a special type of ultrasonography, the Doppler-ultrasonography (within Dopplers the one using color codes is color Doppler).

The aim of a color Doppler ultrasonography

The aim of color Doppler ultrasonography of the penis of patients suffering from ejectile dysfunction is to get information about the penile vascularity and the flow conditions and therefore have a greater chance to help the problem of the patient suffering from ejectile dysfunction.

A special injection is required for this is injected in the corpus cavernosum and spongiosum of the patient’s penis that induces erection performed by the andrologist-urologist specialist of our medical center.

Who is the examination recommended for?

The color Doppler ultrasonography of the penis is recommended for those patients whose problems may be caused by the circulation disorders of the penis according to the clinical and laboratory examinations. This can be decided by the urologist-andrologist, who examined/treated the patient. 
An urologist or andrologist specialist can send the patient to this  examination with detailed medical history or if you haven’t consulted with an urologist or andrologist specialist, please make an appointment with our specialists!: Dr. Albert István, Dr. Kopa Zsolt, Dr. Lőwy Tibor

The process of the examination

The patient will receive written patient information prior to the treatment. The patient’s possible further questions will be answered by the physician during a consultation. Should the patient agree with the examination he has to confirm it by signing the patient informed content form.

The color Doppler ultrasonography is preceded by a regular ultrasonography in every case to check the incidental constructional differences and diseases of the penis. It is followed by the fine needle injection in the side of the penis and then ultrasound flow measurements are performed on the vessels of the penis for 30 minutes. Blood flow velocity is measured from the main artery of the penis, but other data are also recorded. Evaluation is done right after the examination and the patient will get the result in written form thenceforward.

What is the effect of the injection?

The active agent of the injection influences the neural effects (so called adrenergic effect) in the penis and relaxes the smooth muscle of the arteries and therefore increases blood flow in the arteries of corpus cavernosum and spongiosum and generates erection in most of the cases. The effect is temporal, it ceases within an hour on its own in majority of cases.

Is the injection painful and does it have side effects?

A minimal pain may be experienced during the injection; its possible complications are very rare.

There are men who can perform this self-treatment of their own erectile dysfunction after learning the method.

Incidental side effects and complications are detailed during the consultation prior to the treatment and the patent may put his further questions to the physicians who will perform the examination.

The patient should stay in the medical center until his erection ceases completely and he can continue his duties after that.

What is ultrasonograpy suitable for?

The color Doppler ultrasonography is suitable for the detection of the arterial and venous circulation disorders in the penis. The arterial circulation disorder can be diagnosed clearly but the diagnosis of venous circulation disorder is usually indirect and is made upon the signs of the arterial circulation.