The Role of Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise in Erectile Dysfunction

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the role or applicability of pelvic floor muscle exercise for erectile dysfunction.METHODS: This narrative review was conducted by searching terms such as “erectile dysfunction”, “erection dysfunction”, “sexual dysfunction”, and “pelvic floor muscle training”, “pelvic floor muscle exercise”, “pelvic floor exercise”, “randomized controlled trials”, “randomized clinical trials” in PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science.RESULTS: Seven articles met the inclusion criteria. Six studies applied pelvic floor muscle exercise, electrical stimulation, and biofeedback treatment to patients with erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy. Only three studies showed that treatment in the intervention group had a significant effect on erectile function. Considering these results, the study subjects who applied the three treatment methods presented above were mainly patients with erectile dysfunction caused by prostate cancer surgery.CONCLUSIONS: Seven randomized controlled trials showed no significant effect of pelvic floor muscle exercise on erectile dysfunction. However, they are thought to have applicability as a method for treating erectile dysfunction. In studies of erectile dysfunction caused by radical prostatectomy, homogeneity in the age, duration of erectile dysfunction, and nerve-sparing surgery should be ensured between the intervention and control groups. First, future clinical research is required to determine whether existing methods and concurrent treatment with drugs, such as sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis) can shorten the recovery period of erectile function. Second, clinical research is needed to analyze the differences in changes in erectile function between those performing aerobic exercise and pelvic floor muscle exercise combined and those performing only pelvic floor muscle exercise.