The efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of erectile dysfunction: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Erectile dysfunction (ED) can negatively affect men's mental health, interpersonal relationships, and overall well-being. ED has affected >150 million men worldwide, and this number will reach approximately 322 million by 2025. Although PDE5-Is is a landmark in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, it may have side effects such as penile pain, cardiovascular dysfunction, and deafness. Some studies have shown that acupuncture may have a positive effect on the pathophysiology of ED. Therefore, we will select all randomized controlled trials related to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment of ED. METHODS: This study will systematically search 7 digital databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, VIP, China Biology Medicine, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase for randomized controlled trials without language restrictions. Two researchers will independently read the title, abstract, and full text to screen for studies that can be included in the meta-analysis. If there is any dispute, the third party will be required to reach a consensus. RESULTS: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of ED and the difference in the impact of different types of acupuncture on ED. CONCLUSION: Judge whether acupuncture and moxibustion can help improve the symptoms of ED by evaluating relevant literatures, and make up for the lack of relevant research. INPLASY REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY 202140040