The impact of sleep deprivation on erotic erections

Objective and Methods: The audiovisual stimulation penogram seems to be an appropriate screening test for erectile failure. However, falsely abnormal findings in psychogenically impotent patients with severe excitement inhibition can be found. Since disinhibitory effects may occur after sleep deprivation, we evaluated RigiScan results during audiovisual stimulation before and after sleep deprivation in 35 psychogenically impotent men. Results: In our patients, sleep deprivation induced an increase in penile tumescence and rigidity before intracavernous injection of prostaglandin El as well as after the injection. Conclusion: Our data suggest that sleep deprivation combined with vascular testing and visual stimulation might lead to more precise diagnosis in male impotence.