Erectile dysfunction affects about 30 million men in the U.S. Pills like sildenafil and tadalafil work well for many people, but they don't address underlying causes like vascular disease or nerve damage. Research is exploring tissue regeneration, new delivery methods, and treatments for men who don't respond to current medications.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing stem cell therapies that may repair damaged tissue, shock wave therapy that encourages new blood vessel growth, gene therapies, and topical gels that bypass pills entirely. Researchers are also studying how conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease damage erectile function, with the goal of preventing ED before it starts.
Regenerative therapies
Stem cell injections and platelet-rich plasma aim to rebuild blood vessels and nerve tissue in the penis. Early studies suggest some men see lasting improvement without ongoing medication.
Topical treatments
New gels absorbed through penile skin deliver medication directly where it's needed, avoiding digestive side effects. These may work for men who can't take pills or prefer a different approach.
Shock wave therapy
Low-intensity sound waves appear to stimulate new blood vessel formation. Several trials are testing whether this can restore natural function rather than requiring medication each time.
What to know before you search
Eligibility often depends on ED severity, underlying health conditions like diabetes or heart disease, prior treatments tried, and sometimes testosterone levels.
What types of trials are currently open
- Drug trials — Testing new oral medications, topical gels, or faster-acting formulations of existing drugs.
- Regenerative medicine trials — Testing stem cells, gene therapy, or growth factors injected into penile tissue to restore function.
- Device trials — Testing shock wave devices, vacuum pumps, or implantable devices with new features.
- Combination therapy trials — Testing whether pairing treatments — like pills plus counseling or shock waves plus medication — works better than single approaches.
- Prevention trials — Testing whether early treatment of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or low testosterone can prevent ED from developing.
Recently added Erectile Dysfunction trials
Receive shockwave treatment sessions for erectile dysfunction
The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the efficacy and safety of linear piezoelectric Li-SWT for erectile dysfunction patients who have poor treatment respond from PDE5i oral treatment. Participants will be randomised to either receive 4 cycles, once per week, of Li-SWT treatment on the penis or the Sham group, where the treatment appears to be identical but the shockwave machine is deactivated. Investigators will compare the before and after treatment erectile function using the IIEF questionnaire of the two groups 1 month after treatment to assess the treatment outcome. After that, the Sham group patient would be offered to receive compensatory Li-SWT treatment and their post treatment response will be assessed. All the patients completing the Li-SWT treatment will be followed up at 6 and 12 months to assess the efficacy and adverse events.
Share your experiences through an anonymous survey about sexual health and marriage
This web-based comparative cross-sectional survey will assess sexual function, sexual quality of life, psychological status, and marital satisfaction among Egyptian men in monogamous and polygamous marriages. Eligible participants will be married Egyptian men aged 18 years or older who provide electronic informed consent and complete an anonymous Arabic-language questionnaire. The primary outcome will be sexual function measured using the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM/IIEF-5). Secondary outcomes will include Sexual Quality of Life-Male (SQOL-M), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), marital satisfaction, and sociodemographic and clinical predictors of impaired sexual function. Data will be analyzed using descriptive, comparative, correlation, and multivariable regression methods.
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