Neurostimulator Implants May Help with Erectile Dysfunction in Men with Spinal Cord Injuries
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common issue in men in which they struggle to get an erection or sustain an erection long enough for satisfying sex. ED is especially common in men with spinal cord injuries (SCI), which is damage to the nerves in the spine that send signals between the brain and the body.
ED with an SCI is likely related to a disruption in the system that signals arousal and erection. This may not be able to be treated by traditional methods like phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDE5-i's) – commonly known as Viagra or Cialis. Other standard ED treatments include vacuum erection devices, penile injections, and surgically placed implants.
Some non-conventional methods have been tested recently, including electrical stimulation, which has shown improvement in patient erections. An experimental penile implant has been tested recently, which would allow men to use electrical stimulation at home to improve erectile function. This device was invented based on the idea that controlled electrical stimulation can enhance brain signals and blood flow response.
Researchers aimed to test the safety and tolerability of this implantable neurostimulator in men with traumatic SCI and ED. Six men with a median age of 33 and at least 3.5 years with an SCI and ED were recruited for a clinical trial. After the implant surgery, in which the neurostimulator was placed in the penis, researchers followed up at 14, 44, 90, 180, and 360 days, as well as conducted biweekly phone check-ins for any complications and device malfunctions.
At the pre-surgery and follow-up appointments, patients completed surveys assessing their level of erectile dysfunction (ED), including the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15), with particular focus on the erectile function domain score (IIEF-EF), as well as the Erection Hardness Scale (EHS), which rates erection firmness on a scale from 0 to 4. Researchers say that no patients reported complications during the entire year of follow-up, and no patients withdrew from the study. This suggests that the device is likely tolerable, and patients did not actively dislike its function, although the small size of the group should be considered.
The IIEF-15 and IIEF-EF scores both improved significantly over the one-year timeframe. This positive change in results suggests that the device did improve erectile function in this group of men with SCI. However, the EHS improved over one year but did not show any statistical significance. Researchers say these results support future research and experimental use, if governing bodies recommend it.
This study is supported by previous research on electrical and neurostimulation, and it aligns with a growing body of research. It appears more researchers are interested in further research on ED treatments in special populations.
Researchers say the results also support the idea that targeted electrical stimulation of this specific area of nerves is safe and presents a possible approach to ED treatment in SCI patients. However, because this study included a very small group and did not have a control group to compare results with, there is no way to say for sure whether these results can be translated to a larger population just yet. More research with larger sample sizes is needed to show that this device works as intended and to determine whether the results would lead to clinically significant improvements in erectile function and safety compared with intracavernosal injections (ICI) and penile prostheses, which are the standard of care for patients who have failed oral therapies.
Key Takeaways
- Erectile dysfunction is common in men with spinal cord injuries, likely due to nerve damage disrupting key signals from the brain to the penis.
- Electrical stimulation is said to improve brain signals and blood flow to the penis.
- Researchers tested an electrical stimulation implant that could be used at home to treat ED.
- Results showed improvement for ED, but the small sample size makes it challenging to interpret these results.
- Future research should include larger sample sizes and a control group.
- If a spinal cord injury is disrupting satisfactory sex, it may be beneficial to speak with a sexual health professional.
Resources
Glina, S., Seligra-Lopes, L., Lessa, P. F., Jost, R. T., Glina, F. P., Cintra, C. C., de Castro Neves Neto, O., Juliano, R. V., Seabra Rios, L. A., Fraga-Silva, R. A., Sturny, M., Stergiopulos, N., & Burnett, A. L. (2026). Safety and tolerability of a novel implantable neurostimulator to improve erectile function: A pilot study in patients with Spinal Cord Injury. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 23(5). https://doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdag111
You may also be interested in...
Did You Know?
What Women Need to Know About Pain During Sex
November 15, 2022SMSNA
Disorders of Ejaculation Guideline Highlights for APPs
June 9, 2022Did You Know?
How Did STI Rates Change During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic?
August 2, 2022SMSNA
Online Treatments for Male Sexual Dysfunction in the Time of COVID-19
October 22, 2021Did You Know?
The Facts About Vaginal Health and Feminine Hygiene
January 11, 2022SMSNA Patients
New Survey Reveals Men Prefer Telemedicine
October 19, 2021Did You Know?
Why Does Sex Hurt?: A Guide for Figuring Out What Might Be Causing Painful Sex
June 22, 2021SMSNA Patients
Low-Intensity Shockwave Therapy May Be Beneficial for Women With Provoked Vestibulodynia
February 23, 2021Blog
An Overview of Concealed Penis
February 16, 2021Other Popular Articles
What Is the Average Penis Size?
If you have ever wondered how your penis compares to others in terms of size, you are not alone. Many men are curious to know how their penises stack up compared to the average. Unfortunately, general curiosity can sometimes give way to full-on obsession and anxiety about penis size. This can be an unhealthy and often unnecessary fixation, especially because most men who think their penises are too small have perfectly normal-sized penises.
What Is Sensate Focus and How Does It Work?
Sensate focus is a technique used to improve intimacy and communication between partners around sex, reduce sexual performance anxiety, and shift away from ingrained, goal-oriented sexual patterns that may not be serving a couple.
Can Sex Reduce Menstrual Cramps?
The SMSNA periodically receives and publishes ‘guest editorials.’ The current article was submitted by Mia Barnes, a freelance writer and researcher who specializes in women's health, wellness, and healthy living. She is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Body+Mind Magazine.
Having sex while you experience menstrual cramps is healthy and can provide significant benefits. While it might not be the first activity that comes to mind when your PMS or period cramping begins, many people enjoy sex to reduce menstrual cramps, experience increased pleasure and benefit from other advantages. Learn more about having sex while menstrual cramps are happening and how it can help your body.
What Is Jelqing, and Does It Actually Work?
The term “jelqing” refers to a set of penis stretching exercises that some believe can make the penis bigger. Although the practice has gained attention and popularity in blogs and internet forums in recent years, there is no scientific evidence that it is an effective way to permanently increase the size of one’s penis. In fact, in some cases, jelqing may actually cause damage to the penis, so it is a good idea to get all the facts before setting off to try it.
How Long Does It Take the Average Man to Ejaculate?
On average, it takes a man between 5 to 7 minutes to orgasm and ejaculate during sexual intercourse.
Can Sex Throw off Your Vaginal pH Balance?
The SMSNA periodically receives and publishes ‘guest editorials.’ The current article was submitted by Mia Barnes, a freelance writer and researcher who specializes in women's health, wellness, and healthy living. She is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Body+Mind Magazine.
Your vagina is a pretty powerful organ. It is a pathway for menstrual blood and babies. It also is a main player in sexual intercourse. You might hear about your vagina’s pH and worry that yours is at risk. Here’s what to know about vaginal pH, including the impacts sex could have.
Attention: Restrictions on use of SMSNA content in third party applications, including artificial intelligence technologies, such as large language models and generative AI.
You are prohibited from using or uploading content you accessed through this website into external applications, bots, software, or websites, including those using artificial intelligence technologies and infrastructure, including deep learning, machine learning and large language models and generative AI.
