A reason for consultation still too often left unspoken, which can also be an early cardiovascular warning sign not to be ignored.
By Dr Alexandre Fleury · Physician acupuncturist · ~6 min read · Updated October 2026
Erectile dysfunction is the persistent difficulty in obtaining or maintaining an erection sufficient for satisfying intercourse. It becomes more common with age, but it should never be seen as an inevitability to simply get used to: it is a legitimate reason for consultation, including in a young man.
The blood vessels of the penis are small and sensitive to the same risk factors as the arteries of the heart: erectile dysfunction can be an early sign of cardiovascular disease, sometimes before other symptoms appear. This is an additional reason to talk to your doctor, who can assess your cardiovascular risk factors.
Causes are often mixed: vascular (diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, cholesterol), neurological, hormonal, medication-related, and psychogenic (stress, performance anxiety, relationship context). In a young man with no risk factors, a psychogenic cause is more often involved, but a medical work-up remains the first step.
TCM classically links erectile function to the Fire of Ming Men (linked to the Kidney) and to the free circulation of Qi and Blood to the genital organs. Depending on the profile, practitioners speak of a Kidney Yang deficiency, Liver Qi stagnation linked to stress, or damp-heat. These are traditional interpretive frameworks, which guide the choice of points used — often located on the abdomen (Guanyuan CV4, Qihai CV6), on the leg (Zusanli ST36) or at the wrist (Neiguan PC6), depending on the profile.
A recent meta-analysis covering around twenty trials and nearly 1,500 patients reports an improvement in the score used to assess erectile function in men treated with acupuncture, compared with control groups. The effect appears particularly clear when the dysfunction has a marked psychological component: in this context, several studies note, alongside improved erections, a reduction in associated anxiety and depressive symptoms, with an effect that appears to persist several weeks after treatment stops.
Some work suggests an additive effect when acupuncture is combined with standard medications (such as sildenafil or tadalafil) or with Chinese herbal medicine — never in their place. The mechanisms suggested involve stress regulation (the stress hormone axis), a possible increase in testosterone, an effect on local blood flow, and a calming effect on anxiety.
Acupuncture never replaces medical assessment or standard treatments — particularly the cardiovascular work-up that erectile dysfunction may prompt.
I use very small, single-use needles, much finer than a blood-test needle. Most of the time you feel a slight prick, then nothing more. This sensation lasts a few seconds, then settles.
When should you seek prompt medical advice?
Talk to your doctor, or seek advice without delay if you have:
Never take treatment for erectile dysfunction without medical advice, including products sold without a prescription online: some are contraindicated with other treatments, particularly cardiovascular ones.
This article is intended for information and education. It does not replace a medical consultation and does not constitute personalised advice.
