Sympathetic Skin Response: A New Test to Diagnose Ejaculatory Dysfunction

Sympathetic skin responses were elicited from the palm and sole (plantar) with electrical stimulation on the dorsal nerve of the penis in 24 individuals. The palmar and plantar sympathetic skin responses were obtained in 12 subjects with normal ejaculatory function. On the other hand, the plantar sympathetic skin response was absent in 11 of 12 patients who lacked ejaculation. Since the plantar sympathetic skin response is correlated closely to the mechanism of ejaculation, this test is expected to be helpful to diagnose sexual dysfunction and to monitor the effects of treatment.