They studied 90 patients that displayed acute signs of peripheral neuropathy and the added problem of erectile dysfunction, needing intensive therapy. Current drug treatments for erectile dysfunction include Viagra and Cialis.

Patients that volunteered for the research had an average age of 54 years, 10% under 40 years and 2% were over 70. No interconnection with the IIEF-5 (International Index of Erectile Function) summary was found in the older test subjects, by way of making them more susceptible, if anything the younger participants had lower IIEF-5 scores. Breakdown of other medical backgrounds was; 30% cardiovascular disease, 16% neurogenic conditions, 16% diabetes, 7% mental health and 11% no risk factors.

Those presenting with worse cases of peripheral neuropathy also had very low IIEF-5 results. Neurophysiological investigations supported evidence that 69% had neurological pathology and 8% of these had myelopathy, which affects the spinal cord. Over a third had polyneuropathy, with small percentages were exhibiting small fibre and pudendal neuropathy, which causes problems in the pelvic area.

Dr Valles-Antuna believes that this is a unique study, that covers the full spectrum of peripheral nerve fibre conditions in a non-selected group presenting with erectile dysfunction. Using the information gathered from the sufferers, combined with neurophysiological tests has shown that peripheral neuropathy is prevalent amongst men with impotence. With reference to this information, it is advised that medical practitioners’ should perform neurophysiological examinations on erectile dysfunction patients and establish that the pelvic area has been screened effectively.