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Does exercise help erectile dysfunction? 11 trials say yes, with the biggest gains in severe ED

Does exercise help erectile dysfunction? A review of 11 trials found aerobic exercise improves erectile function, most in men with severe ED.

Published October 2026

Short answer

Yes, modestly: aerobic exercise raised erectile function scores by 2.8 points on a 30-point scale, most in severe ED. The average gain is below the usual threshold for a clinically meaningful change. Evidence grade B (Moderate). Meta-analysis of 11 randomised trials with a consistent direction; downgraded once for risk of bias (no blinding possible) and diverse populations with added diet advice.

Key takeaways

  • Aerobic exercise improved erectile function by 2.8 points on a 6 to 30 scale compared with no exercise, across 11 randomised trials [1].
  • The gain was largest in severe ED (4.9 points), then moderate (3.3) and mild (2.3) [1].
  • A typical programme was 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic activity, 3 to 5 times a week, for about 6 months [2].
  • The average gain, though real, fell below the thresholds suggested for clinical significance, so exercise is a helpful step rather than a cure [2].
  • Exercise is low-risk, but ED medicines remain the standard treatment and a doctor should check for underlying causes [1][2].

The short version

Yes, exercise helps erectile dysfunction (ED). Across 11 trials, men who followed an aerobic exercise programme scored 2.8 points higher on a standard erectile function questionnaire (a 6 to 30 scale) than men who did not exercise [1]. The gains were biggest in men whose ED was most severe, and the average gain is real but modest [1][2].

What the studies show

A 2023 review pooled 11 randomised trials that compared aerobic exercise with no exercise in men with erectile problems. Overall, exercisers did clearly better than the comparison groups [1]. A later expert commentary on the review counts the trials as 1,147 men in total [2].

The benefit grew with the severity of the problem. Men with mild ED gained about 2.3 points, men with moderate ED about 3.3, and men with severe ED about 4.9 [1]. So if you have the most to gain, you seem to gain the most.

An earlier review of 7 trials in 478 men with ED, which included aerobic, pelvic floor and combined programmes, also found better erectile function scores with exercise and pointed to moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise in particular [3].

What the exercise programmes looked like

The trials used different programmes, but most were sessions of 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic activity, 3 to 5 times a week, for a median of 6 months. Advice about diet and weight loss was often given too [2]. The men in these trials had a range of conditions, most often obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes or heart and circulation disease [2].

The nuances

The average gain is modest. The commentary points out that the improvement, although statistically solid, fell below the thresholds usually suggested for a clinically meaningful change. That means exercise is better seen as a helpful step than a cure on its own [2].

Nobody could be blinded. Men know whether they are exercising, which can colour how they score themselves. The trials also varied quite a bit, and the review itself notes that the groups studied were diverse [2][1].

Prevention may be the bigger win. The commentary suggests aerobic exercise might be more useful for preventing ED in the first place, though it describes that evidence as preliminary [2].

Medicines are still the standard treatment. Tablets called PDE5 inhibitors remain the gold-standard treatment for ED, and exercise was not compared with them in these trials [2].

Safety. The review authors describe regular aerobic exercise as a low-risk, non-drug option [1]. ED is common in men with other medical conditions, with rates of 43% to 76% reported [2], so it is worth raising with a doctor, especially before starting hard exercise if you have a heart condition.

What this means for you

If you have ED, regular aerobic exercise (brisk walking, cycling, jogging or similar, see Walking and HIIT) is a low-risk addition with trial support, and the trials point to the largest gains where the problem is worst [1]. Expect a steady improvement over months rather than a quick fix, since the typical programme ran for about 6 months [2]. This does not replace talking to a doctor about the cause. Our Erectile Dysfunction page keeps the evidence in one place.

Go deeper

  • Erectile Dysfunction — Regular aerobic exercise improves erectile function, most in men with severe ED, but the average gain is modest and medicines remain the standard treatment.
  • Walking — Walking after a meal lowers the post-meal blood sugar rise: pooled crossover trials found walking soon after eating cut glucose more than sitting or walking be…
  • HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) — High-intensity interval training (HIIT) raises fitness more than doing nothing, and reviews show it may also lower blood pressure, waist size and blood sugar i…

References

  1. Effect of aerobic exercise on erectile function: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.. J Sex Med, 2023.
  2. Aerobic Exercise: Randomized Controlled Trial Data Suggest Qualified Benefits for Erectile Dysfunction.. J Clin Psychiatry, 2024.
  3. Physical activity and exercise for erectile dysfunction: systematic review and meta-analysis.. Br J Sports Med, 2017.