Mechanism and Efficacy of Sildenafil for Erectile Dysfunction

Clinical Efficacy

High-quality evidence shows that sildenafil significantly improves erections (73-88% improvement) compared to placebo (26-32%) in patients with erectile dysfunction, according to the American College of Physicians, as published in the Annals of Internal Medicine 1
The weighted mean percentage of successful sexual intercourse attempts is 69% for sildenafil versus 35.5% for placebo, indicating a substantial improvement in sexual function 3
Sildenafil is effective for erectile dysfunction of various etiologies, including diabetes, depression, cardiovascular disease, and prostate cancer, with efficacy supported by high-quality evidence from the Annals of Internal Medicine 3

Patients should be instructed that sexual stimulation is necessary for the medication to work, as advised by the American Urological Association, as published in The Journal of Urology 4
In men with testosterone deficiency, combining testosterone therapy with sildenafil may be more effective than sildenafil alone, according to guidelines from the American Urological Association, as published in The Journal of Urology 4