Yohimbine as a treatment for erectile dysfunction: A systematic review and meta-analysis

In recent years, several studies have reported promising results of Yohimbine as a natural supplement for erectile dysfunction (ED). However, several studies suggested that the aphrodisiac effects of the extract were only a placebo or due to the increase in peripheral vascular congestion. In contrast, other studies reported that it could provide excellent curative effects on organic impotence. We aimed to review the efficacy of Yohimbine as a pharmacological treatment for ED and performed a comprehensive systematic search of published articles in PubMed and Science Direct databases for eligible randomized controlled trials comparing Yohimbine to placebo or no treatment for ED patients. A total of eight studies out of 543 studies were included in this review. Both Yohimbine alone (odds ratio [OR] ¼ 2.08, 95% CI 1.30-3.32, P ¼ .002) and combined (OR ¼ 6.35, 95% CI 3.01-13.41, P < .001) showed a significantly greater probability of erectile function improvement compared to the placebo group (OR ¼ 2.87, 95% CI 1.94-4.25, P < .001). Yohimbine alone did not show a significant difference in the rate of improved sexual function (P ¼ .07); however, the pooled results of both subgroups indicated a higher rate of improved sexual function (OR ¼ 2.65, 95% CI 1.43-4.92, P ¼ .002). Sole administration of Yohimbine and its combination with other supplements can improve the erectile function in ED patients. However, it is not able to improve the sexual function if not combined with other treatments.