Effectiveness of Natural Products in Erectile Dysfunction: Having No Other Choice

Abstract: Objective: To determine the Effectiveness of Natural products in Patients with Erectile dysfunction. Methods: It is a multicentric comparative study which was conducted in Department of Urology, Institute of Kidney Diseases Hayatabad Peshawar and Department of Dermatology Maroof International Hospital Islamabad from 1st March 2010 till 31st December 2015. Total numbers of 780 patients with sexual dysfunctions were included in the study by non-probability convenient sampling.    We used The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) [5] scale for the presence and grade of ED .780 patients were divided in to 5 groups of 156 each. Patients were prescribed 4 herbal products naming, Cap NMT, Cap Gonadal F, Cap Syvita  (sentech pharma ) , Cap SM-X ,and 1  Zinc supplement Surbex Z (Abbot laboratories). The data was collected on structured proforma and was analyzed on SPSS. Results: The mean age of patients was 27 years (16-68 years).  The mean IIEF-5 score was 9.8 (Range 5-18) indicating moderate to severe ED in most of the cases. Unfortunately only 56 patients (6.7 %) had presented initially to Urologist, rest of all 724 patients were initially treated by Quacks, General Practitioners, Homeopaths, Spiritual healers, Dermatologists, Gynecologists and Psychiatrists. Most off people had no awareness of erectile dysfunction. They had no idea of about consultation of specific speciality doctor. Their perception was that urologist only deals with kidney and bladder pathologies.   The mean delay in presentation to a Urologist and Dermatologist looking after patient 18 months (3- 24 months). Regarding the efficacy of herbal products in term of symptomatic improvement, their overall efficacies was in range of 10-43%  with Gonadil F was found  effective in 21.7 % of patients , Cap SYVITA 28.3 % , Cap SMX 20% and Cap NMT 20%  , The mean improvement of all herbal formulation in IIEF -5 score is of 9 (7-15) .  The efficacy of Zinc supplement alone as placebo was 10 % in selected group The improvement of patient were among the people whose ages were between 30 to 50 years .which suggests that this enhancement medications have better results in young aged patients suffering from erectile dysfunction i-e below 50 years. Conclusions: Erectile dysfunction is a global problem. There has been a tremendous ignorance in the public about proper referral and management of Sexual dysfunction. Herbal medications are marginally effective in management of erectile dysfunction.