Efficacy of Shenqi Eleven-Flavor Granules combined with electrothermal warm acupuncture in patients with "firm but not lasting" erectile dysfunction characterized by spleen-kidney deficiency: a single-center retrospective analysis

OBJECTIVE: A retrospective analysis of the efficacy of Shenqi Eleven-Flavor Granules combined with electrothermal warm acupuncture for spleen and kidney deficiency type related "firm but not lasting" erections. METHODS: This study utilized a retrospective cohort design to analyze the clinical data of 105 patients presenting with erection that is firm but not lasting, attributed to deficiency of both spleen and kidney. These patients were categorized into three groups, each consisting of 35 cases: the electroacupuncture group, the Yougui electroacupuncture group, and the Shenqi electroacupuncture group. The overall efficacy, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), Erectile Hardness Score (EHS), Erectile Quality Score, serum testosterone levels (T), and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Syndrome Score were analyzed among the three groups of patients. RESULTS: Compared to the electroacupuncture and Yougui-electroacupuncture groups, the total effective rate, IIEF-5 score, EHS, EQS, T level, and satisfaction rate with erection duration during sexual activity were all higher in the Shenqi-electroacupuncture group (all P