Is acupuncture effective for the treatment of erectile dysfunction?

This article investigated the safety and effectiveness of acupuncture for erectile dysfunction (ED). The authors concluded that acupuncture added to other treatments for ED may be effective. 

ED is the inability to get or keep an erection firm enough to have sexual intercourse. ED is currently managed with oral drugs (medications taken by mouth), drugs injected into the penis, and penile implants (devices placed inside the penis to allow men to get an erection). However, these therapies do not always have the desired result.

An alternative treatment option is with acupuncture therapy. This involves stimulating acupuncture points by the insertion of small, sterile needles into the skin. However, the effect on overall effectiveness and safety of this therapy for ED is still under investigation.

The study analyzed 22 trials involving acupuncture for ED. Patients receive acupuncture alone or in combination with medication. 14 of the trials involved psychogenic ED (where an erection fails due to thoughts or feelings rather than a physical problem).

There was no difference found between electro acupuncture (a small electric current is passed between pairs of acupuncture needles) and placebo acupuncture (the needles are not placed in the correct acupuncture points so will have no effect).

In the trials that involved acupuncture combined with tadalafil (Cialis), patients had a 31% increased chance of curing the ED. Acupuncture combined with herbal medicine resulted in a 68% improvement in erectile function compared with herbal medicine alone. Of the 22 trials, 2 trials reported facial reddening, dizziness, itch and needle sticking. 

The authors concluded that acupuncture might be effective as an ajunctive to other treatments for ED.

This study was based on trials of low quality. Further studies involving acupuncture are needed to establish its safety and effectiveness for ED.