Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Sildenafil reduces bother associated with erectile dysfunction: pooled analysis of five randomized, double-blind trials

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 19, pages 584–590 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Improvement in bother associated with erectile dysfunction (ED) is an important aspect of successful treatment of ED. Changes in erectile function and the bother associated with ED were assessed in this analysis of pooled data from five 12-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, flexible-dose studies of sildenafil. Men who received sildenafil (n=578, vs placebo, n=550) had significantly greater (least squares mean±s.e.) improvement in erectile function (EF) domain scores of the international index of erectile function (IIEF) (10.0±0.3 vs 1.0±0.3, P<0.0001) and in erection distress scale (EDS) total transformed score (18.8±0.8 vs 4.8±0.9, P<0.0001). Scores on individual questions of the EDS were 24–65% higher after treatment with sildenafil (vs 8–12%, for placebo). The change in EF domain score correlated positively with the change in total transformed EDS score (0.43, P<0.0001). Successful treatment of ED with sildenafil may reduce the bother associated with ED.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edn. American Psychiatric Association: Washington DC, 1994.

  2. Laumann EO, Nicolosi A, Glasser DB, Paik A, Gingell C, Moreira E et al. Sexual problems among women and men aged 40–80 y: prevalence and correlates identified in the global study of sexual attitudes and behaviors. Int J Impot Res 2005; 17: 39–57.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. de Boer BJ, Bots ML, Lycklama a Nijeholt AA, Moors JPC, Verheij TJ . The prevalence of bother, acceptance, and need for help in men with erectile dysfunction. J Sex Med 2005; 2: 445–450.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Sadovsky R, Mulhall JP . The potential value of erectile dysfunction inquiry and management. Int J Clin Pract 2003; 57: 601–608.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Shabbir M, Mikhailidis DM, Morgan RJ . Erectile dysfunction: an underdiagnosed condition associated with multiple risk factors. Curr Med Res Opin 2004; 20: 603–606.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Goodell TT, Nail LM . Operationalizing symptom distress in adults with cancer: a literature synthesis. Oncol Nurs Forum 2005; 32: E42–E47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Korenman SG . New insights into erectile dysfunction: a practical approach. Am J Med 1998; 105: 135–144.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Fugl-Meyer AR, Lodnert G, Branholm IB, Fugl-Meyer KS . On life satisfaction in male erectile dysfunction. Int J Impot Res 1997; 9: 141–148.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Rosen RC . Quality of life assessment in sexual dysfunction trials. Int J Impot Res 1998; 10: S21–S23.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. NIH Consensus Development Panel on Impotence. NIH consensus conference. Impotence. JAMA 1993; 270: 83–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Stewart AL, Hays RD, Ware JE . Health perceptions, energy/fatigue, and health distress measures. In: Stewart AL, Ware JE (eds), Measuring Functioning and Well-being: the Medical Outcomes Study Approach. Duke University Press: Durham, NC, 1992, pp 143–172.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Cappelleri JC, Siegel RL, Osterloh IH, Rosen RC . Relationship between patient self-assessment of erectile function and the erectile function domain of the international index of erectile function. Urology 2000; 56: 477–481.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Lewis R, Bennett CJ, Borkon WD, Boykin WH, Althof SE, Stecher VJ et al. Patient and partner satisfaction with VIAGRA (sildenafil citrate) treatment as determined by the erectile dysfunction inventory of treatment satisfaction questionnaire. Urology 2001; 57: 960–965.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Rendell MS, Rajfer J, Wicker PA, Smith MD, for the Sildenafil Diabetes Study Group. Sildenafil for treatment of erectile dysfunction in men with diabetes. JAMA 1999; 281: 421–426.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Dinsmore WW, Hodges M, Hargreaves C, Osterloh IH, Smith MD, Rosen RC . Sildenafil citrate (VIAGRA) in erectile dysfunction: near normalization in men with broad-spectrum erectile dysfunction compared with age-matched healthy control subjects. Urology 1999; 53: 800–805.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Rosen RC, Riley A, Wagner G, Osterloh IH, Kirkpatrick J, Mishra A . The international index of Erectile function (IIEF): a multidimensional scale for assessment of erectile dysfunction. Urology 1997; 49: 822–830.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Cappelleri JC, Rosen RC, Smith MD, Mishra A, Osterloh IH . Diagnostic evaluation of the erectile function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function. Urology 1999; 54: 346–351.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Althof SE, O’Leary MP, Cappelleri JC, Crowley AR, Tseng L-J, Collins S . Impact of erectile dysfunction on confidence, self-esteem, and relationship satisfaction after 9 months of sildenafil citrate treatment. J Urol 2006; 176: 2132–2137.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. O’Leary MP, Althof SE, Cappelleri JC, Crowley A, Sherman N, Duttagupta S et al. Self-esteem, confidence, and relationship satisfaction in men with erectile dysfunction treated with sildenafil citrate: a multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in the United States. J Urol 2006; 175: 1058–1062.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Althof SE, O’Leary MP, Cappelleri JC, Hvidsten K, Stecher VJ, Glina S et al. Sildenafil citrate improves self-esteem, confidence, and relationships in men with erectile dysfunction: results from an international, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Sex Med 2006; 3: 521–529.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Cappelleri JC, Althof SE, Siegel RL, Shpilsky A, Bell SS, Duttagupta S . Development and validation of the self-esteem and relationship (SEAR) questionnaire in erectile dysfunction. Int J Impot Res 2004; 16: 30–38.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Stecher V . Near-normalization of erectile function and improvement of psychosocial quality-of-life in men with erectile dysfunction treated with Viagra® (sildenafil citrate). J Sex Med 2005; 2 (Suppl 1): 83.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Cappelleri JC, Bell SS, Althof SE, Siegel RS, Stecher VJ . Comparison between sildenafil-treated subjects with erectile dysfunction and control subjects on the self-esteem and relationship questionnaire. J Sex Med 2006; 3: 274–282.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Seidman SN, Roose SP, Menza MA, Shabsigh R, Rosen RC . Treatment of erectile dysfunction in men with depressive symptoms: results of a placebo-controlled trial with sildenafil citrate. Am J Psychiatry 2001; 158: 1623–1630.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Guay AT, Spark RF, Bansal S, Cunningham GR, Goodman NF, Nankin HR et al. American association of clinical endocrinologists medical guidelines for clinical practice for the evaluation and treatment of male sexual dysfunction: a couple's problem – 2003 update. Endocr Pract 2003; 9: 77–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Heiman JR, Talley DR, Bailen JL, Shumel B, Pace CR, Creanga DL et al. Female partners of men with erectile dysfunction treated with sildenafil citrate report greater satisfaction and enjoyment from sexual intercourse: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Urol 2005; 173 (Suppl 4): 5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. McCullough A, Siegel RS, Tseng L-J . Women's satisfaction with sexual intercourse is associated with their partner's improved erectile function and satisfaction after treatment of erectile dysfunction with Viagra® (sildenafil citrate). J Sex Med 2006; 3 (Suppl 3): 258.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Kaiser DR, Billups K, Mason C, Wetterling R, Lundberg JL, Bank AJ . Impaired brachial artery endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation in men with erectile dysfunction and no other clinical cardiovascular disease. J Am Coll Cardiol 2004; 43: 179–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Thompson IM, Tangen CM, Goodman PJ, Probstfield JL, Moinpour CM, Coltman CA . Erectile dysfunction and subsequent cardiovascular disease. JAMA 2005; 294: 2996–3002.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was sponsored by Pfizer Inc. Editorial support was provided by Carl Clay, PhD, and Deborah M Campoli-Richards, RPh, at Complete Healthcare Communications, Inc, and was funded by Pfizer Inc.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA

    A D Seftel

  2. Pfizer, New York, NY, USA

    D L Creanga

  3. Pfizer, New York, NY, USA

    I P Levinson

Authors
  1. A D Seftel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D L Creanga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. I P Levinson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A D Seftel.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Seftel, A., Creanga, D. & Levinson, I. Sildenafil reduces bother associated with erectile dysfunction: pooled analysis of five randomized, double-blind trials. Int J Impot Res 19, 584–590 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901579

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901579

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links