Acupuncture for Erectile Dysfunction: A Systematic Review

Table 1

Summary of the included studies.

Author, year, country	Design, sample; size/conditions	Experimental; intervention	Control intervention	Primary; outcome; measures	Acupuncture points
Aydin et al., 1997, Austria [19]	RCT, 60 patients with nonorganic ED (mean age 36.7 y)	EA (3 Hz dc, 20 min, twice a week for 6 weeks)	(1) Hypnotic suggestions (three times a week, later once a month); (2) Oral placebo (vitamin pill); (3) Placebo needle (3 Hz dc, 20 min, twice a week for 6 weeks)	Improvement in sexual activity (interview)	True: Qichong (ST30), Zusanli (ST36), Zhaohai (KI6), Guanyuan (CV4), Qihai (CV6); Sham: different points compared to classical acupuncture points
Engelhardt et al., 2003, Austria [18]	RCT, 21 patients with psychogenic ED (mean age 38.9 y)	MA (20 min, once or twice a week, 5–20 sessions, mean 11)	Sham MA (20 min, once or twice a week, 4–10 sessions, mean 6.2)	(1) Response rate (interview) erection sufficient for penetration and intercourse; (2) IIEF-5 score	True: Zhaohai (KI6), Shufu (KI27), Guanyuan (CV4), Qihai (CV6), Wangu (SI4), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Shenshu (BL23); Sham: Xuanzhong (GB39), Jiexi (ST41), Tianshu (ST25) (3 acupoints for headache)
Jiang et al., 2012, China [20]	RCT, 102 patients with psychogenic ED (mean age 28.7 y)	MA (30 min, once a day, 30 days) plus psychological therapy (5–15 min, 12 times/15 days)	Psychological therapy (5–15 min, 12 times/15 days)	Response rate (interview) erection sufficient for penetration and intercourse	Qihai (CV6), Guanyuan (CV4), Zhongji (CV3), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Taichong (LR3), Xingjian (LR2), Taixi (KI3), Yongquan (KI1), Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7), Baihui (GV20), Xinshu (BL15), Shenshu (BL23), Qihaishu (BL24), Mingmen (GV4)

ED: erectile dysfunction; RCT: randomized controlled trial; EA: electroacupuncture; MA: manual acupuncture; IIEF-5: International Index of Erectile Function-5. Acupuncture points designated according to WHO guideline.