Effect of aerobic exercise on erectile function: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Background: The health benefits of regular aerobic exercise are well established, although there is limited high-quality evidence regarding its impact on erectile function. Aim: To determine the effect of aerobic exercise on erectile function in men and to identify factors that may influence this effect. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis included randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effects of aerobic exercise on erectile function via the Erectile Function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-EF). The mean difference in IIEF-EF scores between the aerobic exercise and nonexercising control groups was estimated by a random-effects meta-analysis. Meta-regression was used to evaluate the association of moderator variables on meta-analysis results. Outcomes: The IIEF-EF score is reported on a 6-30 scale, with higher values indicating better erectile function. Results: Among 11 randomized controlled trials included in the analysis, aerobic exercise resulted in statistically significant improvements in IIEF-EF scores as compared with controls, with a mean difference of 2.8 points (95% CI, 1.7-3.9; P