Male Sexual Dysfunction

    Written by:
    Nick Milazzo, Brady Holmer

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Mike Murray
    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    In men, sexual dysfunction is typically related to problems with arousal, getting an erection, and/or ejaculating. Sexual dysfunction is complicated and can be caused my many things. Improving diet, exercising more, and identifying underlying factors are all important for treating sexual dysfunction.

    13 references on this page
    2,436 participants in 24 trials and 2 meta-analyses

    Overview

    Examine Database: Male Sexual Dysfunction

    Research FeedRead all studies

    Frequently asked questions

    Examine Database References

    1. Testosterone - Roaiah MF, El Khayat YI, GamalEl Din SF, Abd El Salam MAPilot Study on the Effect of Botanical Medicine (Tribulus terrestris) on Serum Testosterone Level and Erectile Function in Aging Males With Partial Androgen Deficiency (PADAM)J Sex Marital Ther.(2016 May 18)
    2. Testosterone - G Cavallini, S Caracciolo, G Vitali, F Modenini, G BiagiottiCarnitine versus androgen administration in the treatment of sexual dysfunction, depressed mood, and fatigue associated with male agingUrology.(2004 Apr)
    3. Erections - V Gentile, P Vicini, G Prigiotti, A Koverech, F Di SilverioPreliminary observations on the use of propionyl-L-carnitine in combination with sildenafil in patients with erectile dysfunction and diabetesCurr Med Res Opin.(2004 Sep)
    4. Erections - Giorgio Cavallini, Fabio Modenini, Giovanni Vitali, Aleardo KoverechAcetyl-L-carnitine plus propionyl-L-carnitine improve efficacy of sildenafil in treatment of erectile dysfunction after bilateral nerve-sparing radical retropubic prostatectomyUrology.(2005 Nov)
    5. Sperm Quality - Khaw SC, Wong ZZ, Anderson R, Martins da Silva Sl-carnitine and l-acetylcarnitine supplementation for idiopathic male infertility.Reprod Fertil.(2020-Dec-03)
    6. Testosterone - Ambiye VR, Langade D, Dongre S, Aptikar P, Kulkarni M, Dongre AClinical Evaluation of the Spermatogenic Activity of the Root Extract of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in Oligospermic Males: A Pilot StudyEvid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2013)
    7. Erections - Mamidi P, Thakar ABEfficacy of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal. Linn.) in the management of psychogenic erectile dysfunctionAyu.(2011 Jul)
    8. Testosterone - Guay AT, Spark RF, Jacobson J, Murray FT, Geisser MEYohimbine treatment of organic erectile dysfunction in a dose-escalation trialInt J Impot Res.(2002 Feb)
    9. Erections - Ernst E, Pittler MHYohimbine for erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trialsJ Urol.(1998 Feb)
    10. Testosterone - Gonzales GF, Córdova A, Vega K, Chung A, Villena A, Góñez CEffect of Lepidium meyenii (Maca), a root with aphrodisiac and fertility-enhancing properties, on serum reproductive hormone levels in adult healthy menJ Endocrinol.(2003 Jan)
    11. Libido - Stone M, Ibarra A, Roller M, Zangara A, Stevenson EA pilot investigation into the effect of maca supplementation on physical activity and sexual desire in sportsmenJ Ethnopharmacol.(2009 Dec 10)
    12. Testosterone - Morales A, Black A, Emerson L, Barkin J, Kuzmarov I, Day AAndrogens and sexual function: a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study of testosterone vs. dehydroepiandrosterone in men with sexual dysfunction and androgen deficiencyAging Male.(2009 Dec)
    13. Testosterone - Conaglen HM, Suttie JM, Conaglen JVEffect of deer velvet on sexual function in men and their partners: a double-blind, placebo-controlled studyArch Sex Behav.(2003 Jun)
    14. Testosterone - Biswas TK, Pandit S, Mondal S, Biswas SK, Jana U, Ghosh T, Tripathi PC, Debnath PK, Auddy RG, Auddy BClinical evaluation of spermatogenic activity of processed Shilajit in oligospermiaAndrologia.(2010 Feb)
    15. Testosterone - de Andrade E, de Mesquita AA, Claro Jde A, de Andrade PM, Ortiz V, Paranhos M, Srougi MStudy of the efficacy of Korean Red Ginseng in the treatment of erectile dysfunctionAsian J Androl.(2007 Mar)
    16. Erections - Hong B, Ji YH, Hong JH, Nam KY, Ahn TYA double-blind crossover study evaluating the efficacy of korean red ginseng in patients with erectile dysfunction: a preliminary reportJ Urol.(2002 Nov)
    17. Erections - Choi HK, Seong DH, Rha KHClinical efficacy of Korean red ginseng for erectile dysfunctionInt J Impot Res.(1995 Sep)
    18. Testosterone - Steels E, Rao A, Vitetta LPhysiological Aspects of Male Libido Enhanced by Standardized Trigonella foenum-graecum Extract and Mineral FormulationPhytother Res.(2011 Feb 10)
    19. Erections - W Cherdshewasart, N NimsakulClinical trial of Butea superba, an alternative herbal treatment for erectile dysfunctionAsian J Androl.(2003 Sep)
    20. Erections - Cortés-González JR, Arratia-Maqueo JA, Gómez-Guerra LS, Holmberg ARThe use of Butea superba (Roxb.) compared to sildenafil for treating erectile dysfunctionBJU Int.(2010 Jan)
    21. Erections - R Stanislavov, V NikolovaTreatment of erectile dysfunction with pycnogenol and L-arginineJ Sex Marital Ther.(May-Jun 2003)
    22. Erections - Hossein Mohammadzadeh-Moghadam, Seyed Mohammad Nazari, Ali Shamsa, Mohammad Kamalinejad, Habibollah Esmaeeli, Amir Abbas Asadpour, Abdoljavad KhajaviEffects of a Topical Saffron (Crocus sativus L) Gel on Erectile Dysfunction in Diabetics: A Randomized, Parallel-Group, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled TrialJ Evid Based Complementary Altern Med.(2015 Oct)
    23. Erections - Safarinejad MR, Shafiei N, Safarinejad SAn open label, randomized, fixed-dose, crossover study comparing efficacy and safety of sildenafil citrate and saffron (Crocus sativus Linn.) for treating erectile dysfunction in men naïve to treatmentInt J Impot Res.(2010 Jul-Aug)
    24. Quality of Life - Suter A, Saller R, Riedi E, Heinrich MImproving BPH symptoms and sexual dysfunctions with a saw palmetto preparation? Results from a pilot trialPhytother Res.(2013 Feb)
    25. Libido - Wheatley DTriple-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Ginkgo biloba in sexual dysfunction due to antidepressant drugsHum Psychopharmacol.(2004 Dec)
    26. Libido - Harte CB, Meston CMAcute effects of nicotine on physiological and subjective sexual arousal in nonsmoking men: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialJ Sex Med.(2008 Jan)
    Male Sexual Dysfunction: Symptoms, causes, treatments, and your questions answered.