title: Correlations between increased erection hardness and improvements in emotional well-being and satisfaction outcomes in men treated with sildenafil citrate for erectile dysfunction.
abstract: To explore relationships between erection hardness and other outcomes in men with erectile dysfunction (ED). Pooled analyses were conducted on 27 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials and six open-label trials from the worldwide sildenafil database. Outcomes included erection hardness graded subjectively, hardness and sexual satisfaction questions from the International Index of Erectile Function, general and sexually-specific emotional well-being from the self-esteem and relationship questionnaire, and the erectile dysfunction inventory of treatment satisfaction. Hardness outcomes improved (with a possible dose-response relationship for the achievement of fully hard and rigid erections) and correlated positively with the other outcomes. Sildenafil 100 mg produced optimal erection hardness (fully hard and rigid erections) in a substantial proportion of men with ED. Because optimal erection hardness correlated positively with some emotional well-being and satisfaction outcomes, sildenafil 100 mg may be the most appropriate dosage for treatment of ED for most men.
authors.affiliation: Sydney Centre for Sex and Relationship Therapy, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. king.rosie@gmail.com
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: K-P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Juenemann
authors.forename: I P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Levinson
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Stecher
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Creanga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000523:psychology*; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011687:Purines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate