A NON-INVASIVE, QUANTITATIVE SOMATOSENSORY METHOD FOR THE EVALUATION OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

A non-invasive quantitative somatosensory method is provided for evaluating erectile dysfunctions and involves the applications to the glans penis of different temperatures in increments of about 1° C until the patient can correctly identify which temperature starting at an ambient temperature was warmer for at least two consecutive times. The method of this invention provides a relatively simple procedure to assess a patient’s neurological response to therapies. Incremental decreases in temperature can also be used to assess a patient’s neurological response . The method of this invention can also be supplemented, if desired, by determination of the spatial perception threshold and/or the application of pressure, i.e., the sensitivity to touch determination to provide a two-point determination.