Results from an online survey investigating ED patients' insights and treatment expectations

Data suggest that the currently available therapies for erectile dysfunction (ED) do not meet all the patients' and their partners' expectations. The aim was to assess ED patients' treatment expectations for a variety of sex- and drug-related aspects such as importance of spontaneity, partner satisfaction, ideal onset of action and ideal duration of action. A total of n=1124 men with ED and n=410 healthy men, aged 30-75, participated in this online survey. The ED sample was further divided into patients currently undergoing treatment (CTG), patients who had been undergoing treatment in the past (PTG) and naïve patients (NG). The International Index of Erectile Function as well as a mix of study-specific questions was used. All groups considered 'maintaining an erection until the partner reaches orgasm' the most important aspect regarding erectile function. 'Being able to please the partner' was considered as the most important aspect for a fulfilled sex life. The majority of men (38.1%) further considered an onset of action of about 15 min to be desirable. In all, 95.9% further considered a duration of action up to 4 h to be desirable whereas approximately 71% of men considered a duration of more than 12 h to be too long. It seems that once the basic functional aspects related to erectile function have been covered, additional benefits such as 'spontaneity' and 'pleasing the partner' become important and may be critical for choosing the optimum individual treatment, to improve the sexual satisfaction and the adherence to the treatment.