Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An initial study on the effect of functional electrical stimulation in erectile dysfunction: a randomized controlled trial

  • Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Impotence Research Submit manuscript

Abstract

Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects approximately 150 million men worldwide. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) therapy has shown a high regenerative capacity for smooth muscle cells and, therefore, is being increasingly adopted. FES can be a beneficial treatment option when the cause of ED is related to degeneration of cavernous smooth muscle. To evaluate the impact of FES on erectile function in men with erectile dysfunction. Twenty-two patients with ED participated in this randomized clinical trial. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: intervention (IG) or control (CG). IG participants underwent FES therapy (50 Hz/500 µs) for a total of 4 weeks, divided into two weekly sessions lasting 15 min each, with intensity lower than the motor threshold. CG participants were treated with placebo FES and followed the same routine as the IG. Erectile function was assessed by the validated International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) and Erection Hardness Score (EHS), applied before and after treatment, and quality of life, by the WHOQOL questionnaire. Statistically significant differences in IIEF-5 and EHS were found between the IG and CG after treatment (p <  0.05), as well as a within-group difference in the IG when comparing the post-treatment periods (p < 0.0001) The WHOQOL revealed a significant difference between CG and IG after treatment (p < 0.05), as well as a within-group difference in the IG after treatment (p < 0.0001), except in the Environment domain, in which there was no difference between the pre- and post-treatment periods (50.9 ± 2.8 pre vs. 52.3 ± 3.1 post). This trial showed that FES therapy may improve erectile function and quality of life in men with ED.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. NIH Consensus Development Panel on Impotence. Impotence-NIH Consensus Conference. JAMA. 2013;270:83–90.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Pournaghash-Tehrani S, Etemadi S. ED and quality of life in CABG patients: an intervention study using PRECEDE-PROCEED educational program. Int J Impot Res. 2014;26:16–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. McMahon CN, Smith CJ, Shabsigh R. Treating erectile dysfunction when PDE5 inhibitors fail. BMJ. 2006;332:589–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Hackett G. Patient preferences in treatment of erectile dysfunction: the continuing importance of patient education. Clin Cornerstone. 2005;1:57–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Al-Shaiji T, Brock G. Phosphodiesterase Type 5 inhibitors for the management of erectile dysfunction: preference and adherence to treatment. Curr Pharm Des. 2009;15:3486–95.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hwancheol S, Kwanjin P, Soo-Woong K, Jae-Seung P. Reasons for discontinuation of sildenafil citrate after successful restoration of erectile function. Asian J Androl. 2004;6:117–20.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Claes H, Van Kampen M, Lysens R, Baert L. Pelvic floor exercise in the treatment of impotence. Eur J Phys Med Rehabil. 1995;5:42–6.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Derouet H, Nolden W, Jost W, Osterhage J, Eckert R, Ziegler M. Treatment of erectile dysfunction by an external ischiocavernous muscle stimulator. Eur Urol. 1998;34:355–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Andersson K-E Erectile physiological and pathophysiological pathways involved in erectile dysfunction. J Urol. 2003;170(2 Pt 2):S6-13-4.

  10. Hurt KJ, Musicki B, Palese Ma, Crone JK, Becker RE, Moriarity JL, et al. Akt-dependent phosphorylation of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase mediates penile erection. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2002;99:4061–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Gratzke C, Angulo J, Chitaley K, Dai Y-T, Kim NN, Paick J-S, et al. Anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction. J Sex Med. 2010;7(1 Pt 2):445–75.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Stief CG, Weller E, Noack T, Djamilian M, Meschi M, Truss M, et al. Functional electromyostimulation of the corpus cavernosum penis--preliminary results of a novel therapeutic option for erectile dysfunction. World J Urol. 1995;13:243–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Dean R, Lue TF. Physiology of penile erection and pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction. Urol Clin North Am. 2005;32:379–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Ignarro LJ, Bush PA, Buga GM, Wood KS, Fukuto JM, Rajfer J. Nitric oxide and cyclic GMP formation upon electrical field stimulation cause relaxation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1990;170:843–50.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Jiang J, He Y, Jiang R. Ultrastructural changes of penile cavernous tissue in multiple sclerotic rats. J Sex Med. 2009;6:2206–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Hatzimouratidis K, Amar E, Eardley I, Giuliano F, Hatzichristou D, Montorsi F, et al. Guidelines on male sexual dysfunction: erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. Eur Urol. 2010;57:804–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Paick J, Goldsmith P, Barta A, Nunes L, Padula C, Lue T. Relationship between venous incompetence and cavernous nerve injury: Ultrastructural alteration of cavernous smooth muscle in the neurotomized dog. Int J Impot Res. 1991;3:173–84.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Myung-Cheol G, Yun-Chul O, Tae-Woo K. The effect of treatment of erectile dysfunction with electrical stimulation. Kor J Androl. 2000;18:149–55.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Althof S. Quality of life and erectile dysfunction. Urology. 2002;59:803–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Araujo A, Durante R, Feldman H, Goldstein I, McKinlay J. The relationship between depressive symptoms and male erectile dysfunction: cross-sectional results from the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. Psychosom Med. 1998;60:458–65.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Lewis RW, Fugl-Meyer KS, Corona G, Hayes RD, Laumann EO, Moreira ED, et al. Definitions/epidemiology/risk factors for sexual dysfunction. J Sex Med. 2010;7(4 Pt 2):1598–607.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Science and Rehabilitation, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre–UFCSPA, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Cristiane Carboni, Alexandre Fornari, Karoline C. Bragante, Marcio A. Averbeck, Patrícia Vianna da Rosa & Rodrigo Della Mea Plentz

Authors
  1. Cristiane Carboni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alexandre Fornari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Karoline C. Bragante
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Marcio A. Averbeck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Patrícia Vianna da Rosa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Rodrigo Della Mea Plentz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cristiane Carboni.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Carboni, C., Fornari, A., Bragante, K.C. et al. An initial study on the effect of functional electrical stimulation in erectile dysfunction: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Impot Res 30, 97–101 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-018-0024-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-018-0024-8

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation