Aerobic exercise demonstrates positive impact on erectile function, study reveals

The benefits of aerobic exercise on overall health are widely recognized, and now, a recent systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine have shed light on its positive impact on erectile function in men.

Researchers conducted an in-depth analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials, focusing on the effects of aerobic exercise on erectile function. The study used the Erectile Function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-EF) to assess the outcomes. This domain scores erectile function on a scale from 6 to 30, with higher scores indicating better erectile function.

Aerobic exercise yielded statistically significant improvements in IIEF-EF scores compared to control groups. The mean difference in scores was 2.8 points, a finding that highlights the efficacy of regular aerobic exercise in enhancing erectile function.

Interestingly, the study revealed that the degree of improvement in erectile function was influenced by the severity of the condition. Men with milder erectile dysfunction experienced a 2.3 point improvement, whereas those with moderate and severe dysfunction saw even greater enhancements of 3.3 and 4.9 points, respectively. One key takeaway from this research is the nonpharmacologic nature of aerobic exercise, making it a low-risk therapy option for men encountering erectile difficulties.

Reference: Mohit Khera, Samir Bhattacharyya, Larry E Miller, Effect of aerobic exercise on erectile function: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2023;, qdad130, https://doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdad130