Corporeal Calibration: A Discriminatory test for Impotence

Abstract

A common problem influencing the interpretation of the recording of nocturnal penile tumescence is the wide variation in circumferential increase found in normal individuals. A test involving the techniques of corporeal insufflation and continuous monitoring of penile circumference is described. Corporeal calibration performed in this manner allows the expression of nocturnal penile tumescence as a relative value of tumescence capacity. The application of this test permits diagnostic criteria to be established on the basis of the erectile potential avoiding the problems inherent with the use of absolute values of sleep erections.