Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the persistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual activity, affecting tens of millions of men worldwide and often reflecting underlying vascular, neurological, or hormonal conditions. Beyond its impact on quality of life and relationships, ED can be an early warning sign of cardiovascular disease.
What's actually going on in research
Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors such as sildenafil and tadalafil remain first-line treatment for most men and are highly effective. Trials are exploring regenerative approaches — low-intensity shockwave therapy, platelet-rich plasma, and stem cell injections — that aim to restore natural erectile function rather than provide on-demand symptom relief. Melanocortin receptor agonists and intraurethral and topical drug delivery systems are also in active development.
Shockwave therapy
Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy applies acoustic energy to penile tissue to stimulate new blood vessel growth; trials are determining optimal dosing and which patient subgroups respond best.
Regenerative cell therapy
Platelet-rich plasma and mesenchymal stem cell injections are in trials testing whether they can repair damaged cavernous tissue and restore natural erectile capacity, potentially offering longer-lasting results than PDE5 inhibitors.
Melanocortin agonists
Bremelanotide and related melanocortin receptor agonists stimulate erections through a central nervous system pathway distinct from PDE5 inhibitors, potentially helping men who do not respond to standard oral drugs.
What to know before you search
Eligibility depends on ED severity, underlying causes such as diabetes or prior prostate surgery, and prior response to PDE5 inhibitors.
What types of trials are currently open
- Drug therapy trials — Testing new oral, topical, and intraurethral formulations beyond PDE5 inhibitors.
- Shockwave therapy trials — Evaluating low-intensity shockwave devices for vascular ED, comparing dosing schedules and patient selection.
- Regenerative therapy trials — Studying platelet-rich plasma and stem cell injections to restore natural erectile tissue function.
- Psychological and combination trials — Testing combined physical and psychological interventions, particularly for mixed-cause ED.
- Cardiovascular risk trials — Studying whether treating ED also reduces cardiovascular event risk in men with overlapping vascular risk factors.
Recently added Erectile Dysfunction trials
The Effect of Mobile-Based Perioperative Education on Urinary Incontinence and Erectile Function After Radical Prostatectomy
This prospective randomized controlled study aims to evaluate the effect of mobile-based perioperative education on postoperative urinary incontinence and erectile function in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy. Patients scheduled for radical prostatectomy will be assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will receive standard care plus a structured mobile application-based perioperative education program including video-assisted pelvic floor muscle training, perioperative education modules, reminders, and follow-up components. The control group will receive routine perioperative care and standard patient education. Data will be collected preoperatively, after urinary catheter removal, and at 1 month and 3 months after surgery. The primary outcomes are urinary incontinence and erectile function, assessed using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), and a 24-hour pad assessment. Secondary outcomes include lower urinary tract symptoms and disease-specific quality of life assessed by the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), psychological status assessed by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and system usability assessed by the Turkish version of the Computer System Usability Questionnaire-Short Version (T-CSUQ-SV)
A Survey of Traditional Medicine Pattern Identification in Patients With Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common condition that significantly affects quality of life, psychological well-being, and interpersonal relationships. In Traditional Medicine, ED is classified into different syndrome patterns, which are essential for guiding individualized treatment; however, evidence on their distribution and associated factors in Vietnam remains limited. This cross-sectional study aims to determine the distribution of Traditional Medicine syndrome patterns in patients with ED and to evaluate their associations with demographic characteristics, clinical features, psychological status, and lifestyle factors, thereby providing evidence to support improved diagnosis and integrative treatment approaches.
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