Abstract

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• INTRODUCTION:

  Current non-surgical strategies employed to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) target the vascular component of erection physiology. The Viberect handheld device (Reflexonic, LLC, Chambersburg, PA, USA) is a new FDA-cleared ED treatment, which exploits vibratory stimulation of genital afferent nerves for provoking erections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical feasibility of the Viberect device for the achievement of penile erection and rigidity.

  MATERIALS AND METHODS:

  Subjects for this study were five healthy men (mean age 26.4 years) with normal erectile function as measured by responses to the IIEF-EF. The Viberect treatment at 75 Hz with ventral stimulation was initiated without any external visual sexual stimulation. Both objective Rigiscan measurements of rigidity and subjective Erection Hardness Score (EHS) responses were recorded and correlated. Toleration and safety were monitored.

  RESULTS:

  Rigiscan demonstrated that 4/5 subjects achieved tumescence episodes beyond 60% total rigidity (considered the minimum required to achieve a non-buckling erection capable of vaginal intromission). According to EHS, the Viberect treatment yielded scores of 4/4 (penis is completely hard and fully rigid) in 2 subjects, 3/4 (penis hard enough for penetration but not completely hard) in 2 and 2/4 (penis is hard but not enough for penetration) in 1. There were no complications, and all subjects felt that Viberect would be a reasonable, practical ED treatment.

  CONCLUSION:

  This study provides evidence that Viberect produces a non-invasive, well-tolerated erectogenic effect. These results indicate that penile vibratory stimulation provokes erections via neurostimulatory principles and support further study of this modality in treating men with ED.