In a nutshell
This study looked at how penile rehabilitation therapy improved erectile dysfunction (ED – difficulty achieving and maintaining an erection) after radical prostatectomy (RP – complete removal of the prostate). The study found that different penile rehabilitation therapies improved ED after RP.
Some background
Removal of the prostate is common in older men for many reasons. This may be due to an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer. RP may cause problems with erection. Therapies include medication (PDE inhibitors – drugs that improve blood flow to the penis), penile injections and vacuum erection devices (VED – used to promote blood flow to the penis). It is important to know which treatments are effective for ED.
Methods & findings
The study was a meta-analysis (a review of all available research). 16 relevant studies with 2,012 patients were included in the review.
The studies were from different medical centers in different countries. Use of PDE inhibitors was the most common therapy for ED.
Overall, treatment with PDEi, VED, and penile injections was more than twice as effective as a control (false study to compare treatments).
However, the meta-analysis found that PDE5 inhibitors may not be useful in improving the recovery of spontaneous erection.
The bottom line
The meta-analysis found that penile rehabilitation therapy was effective in treating ED in men after RP.
The fine print
More research is needed in each area of therapy.
What’s next?
Talk to your doctor about different therapies for erectile dysfunction.
Published By :
The journal of sexual medicine
Date :
Nov 06, 2017
