Ashwagandha in Psychogenic Erectile dysfunction: Ancillary findings

Abstract

Erectile dysfunction has been defined as the persistent inability to attain and maintain an erection sufficient to permit satisfactory sexual performance. The present study was based on the ancillary findings of the main study (which was based on scoring of International Index of Erectile Function -IIEF) in Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction (PED). The study main findings based on IIEF scoring reported, 12.6 % improvement in trial group (Ashwagandha -Withania somnifera) and 19.11 % improvement in control group (Placebo) (P < 0.001). Ashwagandha didn't provide relief in PED on IIEF scoring. The present ancillary findings are based on the measurement tools like, Erectile Dysfunction Severity Index (EDSI), Quality of Erections Questionnaire (QEQ) and Quality of Internet Mental Health Quality of Life scale (IMHQOL) on same sample, with same materials and methods and intervention as of the main study. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Ashwagandha on EDSI, QEQ and IMHQOL. Two assessments were done before and after treatment, based on the scorings of EDSI, QEQ and IMHQOL. Paired and unpaired't' test were used for statistical analysis. In trial group (n = 41), 10.52 % improvement on EDSI, 4.18 % on IMHQOL and 39.22 % on QEQ and in control group (n = 45), 11.20 % of improvement on EDSI, 5.95 % on IMHQOL and 45.74 % on QEQ was observed (P < 0.001). No statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) found in between the two groups on all the scales. Ashwagandha did not prove better than placebo on EDSI, QEQ and IMHQOL scales.