has there been any reports of acupuncture treatment being effective in
erectile dysfunction? Can it be an effective adjunct with more
traditional therapies. I am thinking of a middle aged male who has had
a radical prostatectomy. Cancer was encapsulated. Cancer free for over
6 years |
Request for Question Clarification by
easterangel-ga
on
29 Oct 2002 18:20 PST
Hi and thanks for your question. I am not a medical expert but I have
found reports and studies about the use and experiments acupuncture in
treating erectile dysfunction. However; these reports have no
indications about radical prostatectomy or cancer. Will links to these
reports be considered as a sufficient answer? Just let me know. :)
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Clarification of Question by
all2en-ga
on
30 Oct 2002 07:20 PST
The prostatectomy spared one of the nerves. Erections then did not
allow for intercourse but there was function. I am aware of all
current medical and surgical procedures. Viagra was of little help. I
take alprostadil injections now. I am able to have sexual intercourse
using the injection. I am not interested in implants. The injections
have side effects ie.some pain, psychologically difficut, can't be
spontaneous.
I am 69 years old and married. Had no sexual difficulties before the
surgery. I take ace inhibitor for mild hypertension.
A doctor of chinese medicine(trained in USA) told me that anecdotally
he has heard the acupuncture might help either by increasing libido or
some other mecanism. Even if I might be able to decrease amount of
alprostadil I would consider acupuncture. I am a physician and thought
that perhaps the mechanism of action might be in increasing
vascularity in area of pelvis or getting the remaining nerve to work
more efficiently, or by increasing sexual desire which I is less
since tte surgery. I am also 6 years o;der.
Thank you Dr.T PS links to reports would be helpful but would also
appreciate further research into specifc situation.
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Clarification of Question by
all2en-ga
on
30 Oct 2002 07:24 PST
I hope both researchers will read my clarification.
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Request for Question Clarification by
easterangel-ga
on
30 Oct 2002 09:28 PST
Hi! Thanks for coming back. Since most of us here are researchers, our
abilities (except for those with medical background) will only take us
so far as finding what we perceive as a related article, reading it
and then passing it to you. The reports I found came from medical
professionals and medical publishers in the Internet like WebMD. In
order for us to get on the same page, I will provide a sample of the
report.
"The use of acupuncture in the treatment of erectile dysfunction"
http://www.icmart.org/icmart00/abstract/abst36.html
I will provide here a list of the other reports I found. Again would
reports like these be enough?
Since I am not a medical expert, I will merely point you to the
reports and would suggest that you consult your physician for any
medical decisions.
Thank you. :)
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Clarification of Question by
all2en-ga
on
31 Oct 2002 08:06 PST
Oct 31 Dear Researchers, As I told you I am a physician and have done
research myself. Acupuncture HAS been used to treat erectile
dysfunction. I think what we should concentrate on is specifically the
literature on acupuncture post prostatectomy. I think it would be
helpful if someone with medical knowelrdge could undertake this. Dr.
T
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Request for Question Clarification by
tehuti-ga
on
05 Nov 2002 01:32 PST
Hello Dr all2en-ga
A review of the use of acupuncture in the treatment of male
infertility and erectile dysfunction appeared last year in the Journal
of Andrology. However, the authors were only able to identify four
publications relating to erectile dysfunction. One reported a pilot
study, one a prospective nonrandomized study, one a retrospective case
study, and the fourth consisted of anecdotal evidence. None of these
appear to deal specificaly with post-prostatectomy cases. The authors
considered the evidence so far to be inconclusive and stressed the
need for further, properly designed studies.
The full text is available for your perusal at:
http://www.andrologyjournal.org/cgi/reprint/22/2/173.pdf (AS.Crimmel,
CS Conner and M. Monga, Withered Yang: a review of traditional Chinese
medical treatment of male infertility and erectile dysfunction. J
Androl. 2001 Mar-Apr;22(2):173-82)
An abstract of one of the four studies (Kho et al) is available on
Medline at Pubmed at
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10098953&dopt=Abstract
There is another study, which the review authors appear to have
missed:
Scand J Urol Nephrol 1997 Jun;31(3):271-4 Acupuncture and hypnotic
suggestions in the treatment of non-organic male sexual dysfunction.
Aydin S, Ercan M, Caskurlu T, Tasci AI, Karaman I, Odabas O, Yilmaz Y,
Agargun MY, Kara H, Sevin G.
Abstract at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9249892&dopt=Abstract
The authors concluded: "Men who received placebo had a 43-47%
improvement in sexual function, while the rates of improvement in the
treated groups were higher, but not significantly so. The success
rates of acupuncture and hypnotic suggestions were 60% and 75%
respectively. Although the improvement was not statistically
significant, treatment with acupuncture could be used as an adjuvant
therapy in non-organic male sexual dysfunction."
Again, this paper did not deal specifically with post-prostatectomy
cases.
There are also a couple of articles in Medical Acupuncture, a journal
of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, but these are even
less specific and only briefly discuss erectile dysfunction as part of
a more-general discussion. However, the authors of these papers could
potentially be useful contacts if you wish to pursue further enquiries
within the acupuncturist community:
http://www.medicalacupuncture.org/aama_marf/journal/vol13_2/case1.html
http://www.medicalacupuncture.org/aama_marf/journal/vol13_1/article5.html
It would seem that if any work has been done on the use of acupuncture
post prostatectomy it has yet to enter the medical literature. I can
only suggest that you pursue further enquiries through acupuncture
organisations such as the American Academy.
I am not putting this in as an answer, because, being essentially
negative, it does not really give a satisfactory answer to your query.
However, I thought you should at least have the benefit of the
research I did. If you feel you can accept this as a full answer,
please let me know.
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