Treatment With Peripheral Nerve Stimulation of the Pudendal Nerve in Patients With Erectile Dysfunction (NEEP)

January 10, 2026 updated by: Camilo Jose Cela University

Short- and Medium-term Efficacy of Treatment With Peripheral Nerve Stimulation of the Pudendal Nerve in Patients With Erectile Dysfunction: a Randomized Clinical Trial

Erectile dysfunction is known as any alteration that produces a modification in the erectile response, whether of organic, psychogenic or relational cause. In this case the pudendal nerve is addressed, since it has its origin in the sacral plexus, deriving from the S2, S3 and S4 nerve branches. Its fibers have different innervation, being the pudendal nerve a mixed nerve, and estimating that it has 30% of autonomic innervation, and 70% of somatic innervation (50% sensory and 20% motor). Peripheral percutaneous nerve stimulation (proposed treatment) is performed with a needle to stimulate the peripheral nerves in such a way as to stimulate most of the area of the structure, stimulating sensory and motor nerve endings of the deeper tissues.

Study Overview

Status

Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The study corresponds to an experimental, prospective, multicenter, randomized, prospective clinical trial. According to the Granmo program, it has been calculated to recruit 72 subjects with erectile dysfunction, recruited from different leading urology and andrology centers such as Clínica LYX (Instituto de Urología de Madrid). Patients will voluntarily accept to be part of the study, and will be able to ask the principal investigator any questions they may have at any time. The intervention will be performed at the LYX Clinic (Urology Institute).

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

72

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Spain
      • Madrid, Spain, 28006
        • LYX Instituto de Urología

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Men
  • Ages 18-60 years old
  • Primarily organic cause diagnosed by Doppler:

Peak-systolic velocities (PSV). Tele-diastolic velocity (DTV). Resistance Index (IR)

  • Initial IIEF-EF questionnaire scores: 1-25 points (mild, moderate or severe erectile dysfunction).
  • Active sex life (more than 4 attempts per month).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pelvic surgeries
  • History of Peyronie's disease
  • Penile surgeries, except circumcision or frenuloplasty
  • Priapism
  • Pelvic radiation
  • Women

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Group (Placebo)
Group I (Control), will be operated with the same procedure but without electric current, and using "placebo needles" of the same size (Streitberger Placebo-Needle ® , Asiamed, Pullach, Germany), which will not pierce the surface of the patient's skin, but will cause a prick sensation. This process will be developed by resting the needle on the skin of the patient's perineum and pushing the handle of the needle until it touches the surface of the skin, producing in the patient the impression of penetration, although this is not the case.
Other: Percutaneous electrical neurostimulation (Placebo)
Group I (Control), will be operated with the same procedure but without electric current, and using "placebo needles" of the same size (Streitberger Placebo-Needle ® , Asiamed, Pullach, Germany)
Experimental: Group (20 Hertz)
Group II will undergo continuous stimulation at a frequency of 20 Hertz, a pulse width of 200 μs and for a total of 20 minutes. The intensity will be set at the maximum tolerated by the patient.
Other: Percutaneous electrical neurostimulation
The Group II and III electrostimulation procedure is called peripheral nerve stimulation and is known as an echo-guided peripheral nerve stimulation technique using a blunt, dry needle (active electrode). The intervention will be performed on the pudendal nerve, in an area where there is no risk of perforating any vascular-nerve bundle. The invasive technique will be performed by a physiotherapist expert in musculoskeletal and peripheral nervous system ultrasound and specialized in invasive techniques, with two years of experience in the sector. The needle will be introduced through the anterior (perineum).
Experimental: Group 3 (50 Hertz)
Group III, will be intervened with continuous stimulation at a frequency of 50 Hz,a pulse width of 200 μs (18) and for a total of 20 minutes. The intensity will be set at the maximum tolerable threshold. In case the patient does not tolerate the treatment, due to increased fatigue, the 50 hertz will be alternated with the 20 hertz in bursts.
Other: Percutaneous electrical neurostimulation
The Group II and III electrostimulation procedure is called peripheral nerve stimulation and is known as an echo-guided peripheral nerve stimulation technique using a blunt, dry needle (active electrode). The intervention will be performed on the pudendal nerve, in an area where there is no risk of perforating any vascular-nerve bundle. The invasive technique will be performed by a physiotherapist expert in musculoskeletal and peripheral nervous system ultrasound and specialized in invasive techniques, with two years of experience in the sector. The needle will be introduced through the anterior (perineum).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-EF)
Time Frame: 4 months
It is an index that assesses erectile function in a purely subjective way. It is the most widely recognized and used, and consists of six questions in which the frequency and firmness of erection, penetration capacity, capacity and frequency of maintenance and confidence in erection are evaluated. According to the questionnaire, dysfunction is classified as: no ED (26-30 points), mild (22-25 points), mild to moderate (17-21 points), moderate (11-16 points) and very strong (6-10 points). A score equal to or greater than 4 points will be considered a significant change. Measurement pre-, one week after the intervention, one month after the intervention and 3 months after the intervention.
4 months
Erection Hardness Scale (EHS)
Time Frame: 4 months
significant changes will be considered to be those men who improved by more than 3 points what in the initial phase was below a score of 2 points. The questionnaire score depends on the rating of erection hardness according to the following parameters: 0 (penis does not enlarge); 1 (penis is larger, but not hard); 2 (penis is hard but not hard enough for penetration); 3 (penis is hard enough to penetrate, but not completely hard); and 4 (penis is completely hard and rigid). Measurement pre-, one week after the intervention, one month after the intervention and 3 months after the intervention.
4 months
Intravaginal Latency Time (IELT)
Time Frame: 4 months
Time to ejaculation is considered and should be between 3 and 6 minutes. A duration of less than one minute is considered premature ejaculation, and a duration between one minute and one and a half minutes is considered probable premature ejaculation. Measurement pre-, one week after the intervention, one month after the intervention and 3 months after the intervention.
4 months
Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT)
Time Frame: 4 months
Helps identify patients who may be suffering from premature ejaculation. Measurement pre-, one week after the intervention, one month after the intervention and 3 months after the intervention.
4 months
Quality of Life Scale
Time Frame: 4 months
It is used to know in a subjective way, the patient's opinion regarding his/her quality of life, according to 4 main aspects: physical, psychological, social and environmental health. Measurement pre-, one week after the intervention, one month after the intervention and 3 months after the intervention. The scale is measured by 26 items, divided into 4 dimensions. Each dimension is independent. The higher the score, the higher the patient's quality of life.
4 months
Self-Esteem And Relationship Questionnaire (Sear)
Time Frame: 4 months
It is a questionnaire used for research and/or clinical practice on self-esteem, in this case for patients with erectile dysfunction. Measurement pre-, one week after the intervention, one month after the intervention and 3 months after the intervention. The scale is measured from 0 to 100 points, with 0 being the worst score and 100 being the best.
4 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Camilo Jose Cela University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Álvaro Navas Mosqueda, Camilo Jose Cela Univerity

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 20, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

February 25, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

February 28, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 29, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 1, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

May 3, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 10, 2026

Last Verified

January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • NEEP

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Erectile Dysfunction

Clinical Trials on Percutaneous electrical neurostimulation (Placebo)

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Slovakia

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe