Magnetic stimulation of the cavernous nerve for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in humans

Abstract

A recent study in dogs has demonstrated that magnetic stimulation (MS) of the cavernous nerve produced an increase of the intracorporeal pressure and full penile erection. In view of these results, we tested the possible application of this procedure in humans with erectile dysfunction (ED). The study comprised 32 patients with ED (age 38.3 AE 9.6 y) and 20 healthy volunteers (age 36.8 AE 8.8 y). Routine erectile function tests suggested that impotence was neurogenic. A magnetic coil was placed over the dorsal aspect of the penis in the vicinity of the symphysis pubis. MS was performed using a stimulation of 40% intensity, 20 Hz frequency, 50 s on and 50 s off for 10 minutes duration. In the healthy volunteers, the coil was placed as aforementioned but was not activated. The intracorporeal pressure was recorded and penile tumescence and rigidity observed during MS in the patients and without stimulation in the controls. MS led to gradual increase in length and diameter of the penis until full erection was achieved; the penis became ®rm, rigid and pulsatile. The intracorporeal pressure increased signi®cantly (P`0.0001) at full erection. Mean latency to full erection was 19.3 AE 3.4 s. Upon off-stimulation, penile erection and intracorporeal pressure returned to baseline after a mean of 22.7 AE 3.2 s. Penile and pressure response to MS was resumed after an off-time of 50 s. The response was reproducible in®nitely if the off-time was observed. The controls showed no penile tumescence or rigidity or increase of the intracorporeal pressure. In conclusion, MS of the cavernous nerve is effective in inducing penile rigidity. It is a simple, easy and non-invasive method which has no adverse effects. It might prove to be suitable for application in patients with ED.

Single-cell transcriptome atlas of the human corpus cavernosum

“…Through evolution, the human penis has lost structures such as the penis bone. Thus, the penis needs to expand several times in size during sexual intercourse, and the bulbocavernosus reflex during erection rigidity causes the intracorporal pressure to exceed the systolic blood pressure 1 , 2 . During this process, erectile signals are transmitted to the corpora cavernosa (CC) by activation of the parasympathetic nervous system and signal transfer in the sacral erectile centre, regulating the nitric oxide synthase (NOS)/cGMP cascade, subsequently leading to depolarisation followed by smooth muscle relaxation with consecutively increased blood inflow 3 , 4 .…”

Innovative trends and perspectives for erectile dysfunction treatment: A systematic review

“…A pioneer study investigated impulse magnetic-field therapy on patients with neurogenic ED and healthy volunteers. The study concluded that magnetic stimulation is a simple, noninvasive method that could induce penile engorgement and indicated this therapy might be suitable for patients with ED [64] . Another double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessed the efficacy of 3 weeks of impulse magnetic-field therapy for ED and found that impulse magnetic-field therapy improved erectile function [65] .…”

Sexual Dysfunction After Traumatic Injury Corrected by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: A Case Report

“…So far, rTMS has been used for repairing of damaged peripheral nerves [3]. Some reported therapeutic effect on neurogenic bladder [4], and magnetic stimulation of the cavernous nerve was reported can induce penile erection [5]. However, there is no report of rTMS treating for NSD.…”