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Erectile dysfunction is on the rise. Pun intended.
Erectile Dysfunction
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Kimberly Eyer
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Kimberly Eyer
Read MoreKimberly Eyer, a Registered Nurse with 30 years of nursing experience across diverse settings, including Home Health, ICU, Operating Room Nursing, and Research. Her roles have encompassed Operating Room Nurse, RN First Assistant, and Acting Director of a Same Day Surgery Center. Her specialty areas include Adult Cardiac Surgery, Congenital Cardiac Surgery, Vascular Surgery, and Neurosurgery.
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Kimberly Eyer
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Kimberly Eyer
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Erectile dysfunction (D) involves the consistent inability to sustain an erection, frequently connected to broader health issues and disturbances in the gut microbiome.
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Kimberly Eyer
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Karen Pendergrass
Read MoreKaren Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease—four years before the first published case study.
Researched by:
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Kimberly Eyer
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Kimberly Eyer
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Fact-checked by:
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Kimberly Eyer
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Kimberly Eyer
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Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Microbiome Signatures
Overview 
Research Feed Overview
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a condition where achieving or maintaining an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance is challenging. Recent studies have highlighted the gut microbiota’s significant role in ED’s development. This overview combines the microbiome signature of the condition with traditional factors to offer a comprehensive understanding of the condition. Recent findings suggest that the gut microbiota can lead to ED and infertility through inflammation, hormonal imbalance, and poor vascular health. Researchers have identified specific taxa potentially causing ED.
Causes
Atherosclerosis and hypertension are primary causes of ED. Similarly, diseases affecting the nervous or endocrine systems can directly impact erectile capabilities. Psychological conditions like stress, depression, and anxiety also significantly contribute to ED, potentially exacerbated by gut microbiota dysbiosis affecting mood-regulating pathways. Additionally, lifestyle choices such as smoking, alcohol use, poor diet, and lack of exercise not only affect vascular health but also alter microbiota composition, further influencing ED.
Diagnosis
The diagnostic process for ED involves assessing medical, sexual, and psychological histories, conducting physical exams, and running lab tests for underlying conditions. It may also include evaluating penile function through tests like nocturnal penile tumescence or vascular studies. Increasingly, evaluations consider gut microbiota analyses to identify dysbiosis patterns potentially contributing to ED.
Treatment Approaches
Causal links between gut microbiota and erectile dysfunction suggest new research and treatment opportunities. Further studies must clarify underlying mechanisms and ideal interventions. Advanced large-scale studies using metagenomics sequencing and basic research into microbiota functions deepen our understanding of how gut health impacts male sexual function. Understanding the interaction between gut microbiota and traditional ED risk factors enhances our disease knowledge. It also guides more holistic treatment and prevention approaches. As research advances, routinely monitoring and manipulating gut microbiota may standardize ED management and prevention. This promises more effective and personalized therapies. Current treatment for ED typically involves addressing identifiable causes.
What interventions are currently implemented for erectile dysfunction?
| Treatment Approach | Description and Impact on ED |
|---|---|
| Lifestyle Modifications | Dietary changes, exercise, and cessation of smoking and excessive alcohol can improve gut health and, by extension, erectile function. |
| Pharmacotherapy | Traditional medications like PDE5 inhibitors are commonly used. |
| Microbiome-Targeted Modifications | Modifying gut microbiota through probiotics or dietary changes (e.g., increasing fiber to boost butyrate-producing bacteria) is an emerging strategy. |
| Psychotherapy and Counseling | Useful for addressing psychological components of ED, can be complemented by therapies aimed at modifying gut microbiota. |
| Advanced Therapies | In severe cases, surgical interventions or mechanical devices may be employed when conservative treatments are insufficient. |
Research Feed
Causal effects of gut microbiota on erectile dysfunction: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
October 19, 2023
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Specific gut microbiota may increase the risk of erectile dysfunction: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
December 18, 2023
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Characteristics of Gut Microbiota in Patients with Erectile Dysfunction: A Chinese Pilot Study
June 1, 2023
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The Role of the Microbiome in Erectile Dysfunction: A review
May 24, 2023
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Infertility
Infertility is the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular, unprotected sex. It affects both men and women and can be due to various physical, hormonal, or genetic factors. Treatments include medication, surgery, assisted reproductive technologies, and lifestyle changes.