Crowdsourcing The Public’s Perception of Microsurgical and Nonsurgical Interventions for Erectile Dysfunction

Why this matters

This study evaluates the public’s perception of nonsurgical versus surgical treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED), including novel microsurgical options. This work contributes to evidence-based plastic and reconstructive surgery — helping clinicians interpret outcomes, refine technique, and counsel patients with clearer data.

Author

Dr. Orr Shauly

Plastic and reconstructive surgery resident at Emory University (UCLA BS, USC MD) with an h-index of 15 and peer-reviewed work spanning aesthetic surgery, reconstruction, medical devices, and AI in medicine.

Abstract

This study evaluates the public’s perception of nonsurgical versus surgical treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED), including novel microsurgical options. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with participants from Amazon Mechanical Turk. Results showed that patients rated microsurgical intervention significantly higher on the visual analog scale (VAS = 74.55) compared to nonsurgical treatments like PDE5 inhibitors (VAS = 52.51), vacuum erection devices (VED) (VAS = 39.77), and penile prosthesis surgery (VAS = 54.82). Many participants were dissatisfied with nonsurgical treatments but were open to considering surgical options. The study suggests that microsurgical interventions should be made more accessible and presented as viable alternatives for ED treatment.