Feeling Hot 1: Environmental Influences of Overnight Measurement on Skin Temperature of the Erectile Penis

Differentiation in nature of erectile dysfunction (ED) is currently made by nocturnal erection detection with the RigiScan. The RigiScan uses outdated software, measurements are user unfriendly and system components are out of stock. In the search of modernizing erectile dysfunctions diagnostics, the question has arisen whether temperature measurements can function as a tool for nocturnal erection detection. With the absence of a pressure component, the patient experience should improve. Literature and mathematical modelling studies have shown that the penile temperature increases significantly during erection. However, it is unclear what the influence of environmental factors such as blankets and clothing is on the increase in penile temperature during erection. The Feeling Hot 1 study explores the effects of these environmental factors in a controlled setting to gain insight into the possibility of using temperature sensing to detect nocturnal erections.

Inclusion criteria

• Male
• Aged 18 - 29 years
• Capable of getting visually arousable erections

Exclusion criteria

• Test subject unwilling to sign informed consent
• Test subject with erectile dysfunction
• IIEF-5 score below 17
• Medical history consisting of sickle cell anaemia, atherosclerosis and/or diabetes type I/II