Stamp Test
From Encyclopedia of Sex and Sexuality
Many men are troubled from time to time by bouts of impotence—the inability to obtain an erection when attempting to have sex—or some other form of erectile difficulty. Although a urologist should be consulted to ensure that there is no organic problem, some men can reassure themselves that they do not have a physical problem by taking the “stamp test.” Simply buy a roll of postage stamps (the least expensive, of course). When you are ready to retire for the night, take five to eight stamps in a continuous strip and run them snugly around the base of your penis. Place a little moisture on the end of the last stamp so that the “ring” of stamps will stay in place during the night. If the strip of stamps is torn or split when you wake in the morning, you have probably had a good, stiff erection. If it is not, try again the next night, but make the stamps a little tighter.
Most men, even though they think that they do not have erections during sleep, do indeed have them. If your sexual apparatus is working (verify this with your physician if you wish), you will have to determine what kinds of psychogenic or situational factors may be causing you to have temporary impotence. If you cannot correct the problem quickly on your own, consult with a psychologist or a sex therapist.
