Erectile dysfunction: exercise as effective as Viagra?

Six out of ten men have experienced an erection problem at least once in their life, according to a Ifop survey. For 15 years, this proportion has been increasing: they were 44% in 2005. To treat erectile dysfunction, the Vidal defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection satisfactory for sexual intercourse, doctors generally offer drug treatment, such as Viagra.

Erectile dysfunction linked to heart health

However, a new study, published in the journal The Journal of Sexual Medicine, offers a more natural solution to men suffering from erectile dysfunction. According to researchers, doing regular aerobic exercisessuch as brisk walking, swimming or cycling, would be almost as effective as Viagra.

During their work, scientists first observed that erectile dysfunction was often associated with cardiovascular health, particularly inflammation and/or hardening of the arteries. They then started from the following hypothesis: if the Aerobic exercises reduce the risk and symptoms of cardiovascular diseasethey could also have an impact on erectile dysfunction.

Aerobic Exercises Almost as Effective as Viagra

To test this hypothesis, scientists did a meta-analysis of eleven studies that included 1,100 people suffering from erectile dysfunction. 500 participants took medication and 600 exercised, three to five sessions per week of 30 to 60 minutes.

Results: Aerobic exercise was almost as effective as prescription drugs like Viagra, provided participants did it regularly. Indeed, those who followed the exercise program had a 5 point improvement in their erectile function, compared to 4 to 8 points for those who took medications like Viagra or Cialis and 2 points for those who received testosterone.

Last observation: the more severe the erectile dysfunction, the greater the improvement. Researchers therefore believe that exercise could be a good way to combat erectile dysfunction, especially since there are no harmful side effects from sport!