October 23, 2023 — Exercising for not less than half-hour 3 times every week could also be as effective as Viagra and similar medications in improving erectile function, in accordance with a brand new evaluation of the most effective research thus far on aerobic exercise and erectile function.
The studypublished this month in TheJournal of Sexual Medicinefound that aerobic activities – resembling walking or cycling – improved erectile function in all men with erectile dysfunction, no matter body weight, general health or medication use. Men with essentially the most severe erectile dysfunction saw the best profit.
“This study provides physicians and patients with the evidence they need to definitively recommend aerobic activity as part of ED treatment,” said study creator Larry E. Miller, PhD.
Doctors have long known that erectile function is linked to cardiovascular health, but there is restricted high-quality evidence on the impact of exercise on the disorder.
Researchers searched the scientific literature and located 11 randomized controlled trials – a gold standard study design wherein participants are randomly assigned to receive an intervention or not. Of the 1,100 men involved within the studies, 600 were assigned to “experimental” groups that typically exercised three to 5 times every week for 30 to 60 minutes, while 500 were assigned to “control groups” with no exercise plan.
The worse the ED, the more exercise helped, the researchers found. On a standardized scale of 6 to 30, men with severe ED who exercised reported a 5-point improvement in erectile function. Those with mild and moderate ED experienced improvements of two and three points, respectively.
In comparison, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors – resembling sildenafil (Viagra) or tadalafil (Cialis) – can result in improvements of 4 to eight points, the study authors note. And testosterone substitute therapy can lead to a 2 point improvement.
“We were particularly impressed by the finding that men with more severe erectile dysfunction achieved greater improvements with exercise, and these improvements were similar to those seen in men taking medications like Viagra,” Miller said.
ED and heart health
Erectile dysfunction can often be attributed to the identical causes as heart problems, including inflammation, narrowing of the arteries (endothelial dysfunction), or hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).
“It's important to recognize that erectile dysfunction can often serve as an indicator or barometer of underlying cardiovascular health,” said Amy Pearlman, MD, a urologist specializing in male sexual health on the Prime Institute in Miami.
Pearlman was not involved within the study, but believes the outcomes make sense. “It is clear that any intervention designed to improve cardiovascular health can also have a positive impact on erection health.”
What was surprising, nevertheless, was that aerobic exercise reduced symptoms as much as medications like Viagra, said urologist Rahul Mehan, MD, founding father of East Valley Urology Center in Mesa, AZ. (Mehan was also not involved within the study.)
While erectile dysfunction medications are generally reasonably priced and accessible, some patients don’t need to take them or cannot tolerate the unintended effects. These can include “headaches, heartburn, nausea, feeling hot and pain in muscles, back, arms or legs,” Mehan said. He adds: “Anyone can train.”
Some doctors, including Mehan, already recommend exercise to their patients with ED.
Now they will tell patients it's “a proven approach supported by high-quality data from randomized trials,” Miller said. “Exercise is low-risk and affordable, making it an ideal first-line treatment option for erection problems, especially for patients who do not want or cannot take medication.”