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Alternative Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction: a Growing Arsenal in Men’s Health

  • Men's Health (R Carrion, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Urology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

To highlight and review encouraging preliminary studies behind several alternative products and interventions for erectile dysfunction (ED).

Recent Findings

Alternative treatments for ED are becoming more prevalent with increased consumer interest. “Natural” products are sold online, and numerous clinics offer various off-label and investigational interventions. These alternative treatments have demonstrated varying degrees of efficacy in randomized trials and meta-analyses, but none of these interventions has robust enough evidence to be considered first-line therapy. These treatments may find a role in combination with guideline treatments or may be used in novel penile rehabilitation research protocols.

Summary

With growing interest in alternative treatment for men’s health, an awareness of the literature is imperative for patient counsel. Alternative treatments, like l-arginine, have a growing body of evidence for efficacy in combination with PDE5i, and low-intensity shock wave therapy and stem cell therapy continue to demonstrate encouraging outcomes in ED trials.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Wade Muncey, Nicholas Sellke, Tyler Kim, Kirtishri Mishra, Nannan Thirumavalavan & Aram Loeb

  2. University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Urology Institute, Mailstop LKS 5046, 11100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA

    Wade Muncey, Nicholas Sellke, Kirtishri Mishra, Nannan Thirumavalavan & Aram Loeb

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  1. Wade Muncey
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Muncey, W., Sellke, N., Kim, T. et al. Alternative Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction: a Growing Arsenal in Men’s Health. Curr Urol Rep 22, 11 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-020-01023-9

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