Abstract: It is estimated that 150 million men worldwide are affected by erectile dysfunction (ED). In terms of risk factors, independent risk factors for ED include age, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, depression, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle. Besides, sleep disorders are potential risk factors for ED, so men who are troubled with loss of diurnal rhythm have significant worse erection. In addition, serum cadmium levels can be used as an independent predictor of erectile function. In terms of diagnosis and evaluation, penile color Doppler ultrasound can effectively evaluate the presence of vascular factors in patients with ED, and has a good correlation with angiographic results, which can be used as a non-invasive examination before angiography. As for treatment, penile prosthesis can effectively improve the erectile function of patients, and posttreatment score is higher on the quality of sexual life and satisfaction of sexual performance. In addition, it is reported that diabetes is an important factor affecting the quality of sexual life after the first penis implant. What’s more, prosthesis implantation will not lead to complications such as shortening of the penis length and decreased sensitivity. However, studies such as extracorporeal shock wave therapy, recovery of erectile function after prostate cancer surgery (sural nerve grafting, intraoperative tissue sealing sheets, application of low dose of sildenafil after surgery), autologous adipose tissue derived stromal vascular fraction injection, gene therapy have the small sample size, and some of them still stay in the basic research stage. Their therapeutic effect needs further study.
