The role of acupuncture in treating premature ejaculation and its probable neurobiological mechanism

Abstract Background Premature ejaculation (PE) is one of the most common diseases in andrology and leads to serious male sexual dysfunction. Although several targeted oral drug therapies are used to treat PE, they often face challenges related to imprecise targeting and adverse effects. Acupuncture...

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Main Authors: Anmin Wang, Hao Wang, Dongyue Ma, Hongyuan Chang, Ziwei Zhao, Dicheng Luo, Fu Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:Basic and Clinical Andrology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12610-024-00239-w
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author Anmin Wang
Hao Wang
Dongyue Ma
Hongyuan Chang
Ziwei Zhao
Dicheng Luo
Fu Wang
author_facet Anmin Wang
Hao Wang
Dongyue Ma
Hongyuan Chang
Ziwei Zhao
Dicheng Luo
Fu Wang
author_sort Anmin Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Premature ejaculation (PE) is one of the most common diseases in andrology and leads to serious male sexual dysfunction. Although several targeted oral drug therapies are used to treat PE, they often face challenges related to imprecise targeting and adverse effects. Acupuncture has shown potential in prolonging ejaculation time and improving couples' sexual quality of life. This review aims to summarize the benefits of acupuncture in treating PE and explore its probable neurobiological mechanisms. Results The review included eight clinical trials involving 679 patients, of which 294 were treated with acupuncture. Furthermore, this review analyzed acupuncture points, needle retention time, treatment duration, and their probable neurobiological mechanisms. The proposed mechanisms include stimulating the frontal functional lobe, inhibiting spinal cord neural pathways, regulating serotonin levels, enhancing 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor IB excitability, reducing penile sensitivity, and modulating hormone levels. Conclusions Acupuncture is a viable alternative or complementary therapy for PE, and neurobiological mechanisms appear to play a key role, but further experimental validation is needed.
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spelling doaj-art-4b5dc716f0284f14955c7afb2844f2e52025-08-20T01:56:20ZengBMCBasic and Clinical Andrology2051-41902024-12-0134111510.1186/s12610-024-00239-wThe role of acupuncture in treating premature ejaculation and its probable neurobiological mechanismAnmin Wang0Hao Wang1Dongyue Ma2Hongyuan Chang3Ziwei Zhao4Dicheng Luo5Fu Wang6Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesDepartment of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesDepartment of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesDepartment of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesDepartment of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesDepartment of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesDepartment of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesAbstract Background Premature ejaculation (PE) is one of the most common diseases in andrology and leads to serious male sexual dysfunction. Although several targeted oral drug therapies are used to treat PE, they often face challenges related to imprecise targeting and adverse effects. Acupuncture has shown potential in prolonging ejaculation time and improving couples' sexual quality of life. This review aims to summarize the benefits of acupuncture in treating PE and explore its probable neurobiological mechanisms. Results The review included eight clinical trials involving 679 patients, of which 294 were treated with acupuncture. Furthermore, this review analyzed acupuncture points, needle retention time, treatment duration, and their probable neurobiological mechanisms. The proposed mechanisms include stimulating the frontal functional lobe, inhibiting spinal cord neural pathways, regulating serotonin levels, enhancing 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor IB excitability, reducing penile sensitivity, and modulating hormone levels. Conclusions Acupuncture is a viable alternative or complementary therapy for PE, and neurobiological mechanisms appear to play a key role, but further experimental validation is needed.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12610-024-00239-wAcupuncturePremature ejaculationMechanismTraditional Chinese medicine
spellingShingle Anmin Wang
Hao Wang
Dongyue Ma
Hongyuan Chang
Ziwei Zhao
Dicheng Luo
Fu Wang
The role of acupuncture in treating premature ejaculation and its probable neurobiological mechanism
Basic and Clinical Andrology
Acupuncture
Premature ejaculation
Mechanism
Traditional Chinese medicine
title The role of acupuncture in treating premature ejaculation and its probable neurobiological mechanism
title_full The role of acupuncture in treating premature ejaculation and its probable neurobiological mechanism
title_fullStr The role of acupuncture in treating premature ejaculation and its probable neurobiological mechanism
title_full_unstemmed The role of acupuncture in treating premature ejaculation and its probable neurobiological mechanism
title_short The role of acupuncture in treating premature ejaculation and its probable neurobiological mechanism
title_sort role of acupuncture in treating premature ejaculation and its probable neurobiological mechanism
topic Acupuncture
Premature ejaculation
Mechanism
Traditional Chinese medicine
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12610-024-00239-w
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