Metabolic syndrome (MetS) causes vascular structural abnormalities, nerve damage, hormonal level changes and other lesions, which promote the occurrence and development of erectile dysfunction (ED). Penile vascular endothelial dysfunction is an important pathological feature of MetS-associated ED, and has received increasing attention in recent years. MetS negatively affects penile cavernous vascular function through the synergistic effects of insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension and obesity. The multiple pathological process may lead to impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation, progressive fibrosis and reduced penile vascular blood flow reserve. This review summarized several common mechanisms of penile vascular endothelial dysfunction in MetS-associated ED, deeply discussed the roles of common pathological manifestations of MetS such as glucose metabolism disorder, hypertension, dyslipidemia and obesity on penile vascular endothelium, and explored treatments targeting these mechanisms in order to provide potential therapeutic targets and strategies in patients with MetS-associated ED.

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is one of the most common diseases in urology, and its prevalence has been increasing, causing serious urogenital problems in men. Several targeted oral drug therapies exist to treat the pelvic pain experienced in this disease. However, these therapies may have potential adverse effects, and due to the unique location of the prostate, delivery of medications to the target lesion is difficult. Consequently, many patients seek alternative therapies. Acupuncture is a well-established treatment method in traditional Chinese medicine that can improve CP/CPPS symptoms and reduce pain. However, previous systematic reviews overlooked the significance of the characteristics and mechanisms of acupuncture therapy. This study aimed to summarize the characteristics and benefits of acupuncture therapy for CP/CPPS based on relevant literature and predict and analyze its related mechanisms.

Background: Red ginseng (RG) is a traditional herb commonly used in China, Korea, and other East Asian countries. Recently, it has demonstrated a better clinical value in men’s reproductive health (MRH). The present review aimed to examine the effects of RG treatment on MRH. Results: Overall, 42 articles related to RG application in MRH were reviewed, of which 31 were animal experiments and 11 were clinical studies. Furthermore, this review analyzed the use of RG in some male reproductive diseases in clinical trials and determined the associated mechanisms of action. The mechanism of action of RG in MRH may be related to oxidative stress, regulation of sex hormones and spermatogenesis-related proteins, and anti-inflammation. Conclusions: The application of RG for the treatment of male infertility, erectile dysfunction, and prostate diseases has the potential to contribute to MRH.

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a common male urological disease, and its clinical manifestations are closely related to the dysregulation of inflammatory factors. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been shown to be effective in managing inflammation and providing pain relief, but their clinical application remains controversial. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is widely used to regulate inflammatory factors in CP/CPPS, and treatment with TCM has gained some advantages based on an “individualized” or “personalized” medical approach. In addition, TCM extracts and acupuncture therapy have also been proven to be effective for CP/CPPS, as they regulate related inflammatory factors. However, current systematic reviews tend to verify the efficacy and safety of TCM therapies in CP/CPPS, and there is still a deficiency in sorting out their mechanisms of modulating inflammatory factors. Based on the current evidence, our review summarizes the application of TCM in regulating inflammatory factors in CP/CPPS to provide a reference for the treatment of CP/CPPS with TCM therapy and a potential direction with future studies in this field.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most common sexual dysfunctions in men. The prevalence of ED has been increasing in recent years, which has critically affected male reproductive health and quality of life. According to various guidelines, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors are the most commonly recommended drugs for treating ED. However, many patients turn to alternative therapies because of adverse reactions, such as headache, and the poor efficacy of these drugs. Acupuncture is a long-established treatment in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and has been approved by the World Health Organization for improving penile erection as well as other discomforts in patients. However, previous systematic reviews have not discussed the characteristics and the related mechanisms of acupuncture treatment. Therefore, this study focuses on summarizing the characteristics and advantages of TCM in acupuncture treatment for ED based on relevant literature and on predicting and analyzing the related mechanisms.

By combing the literature and analyzing the current status of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment for premature ejaculation (PE), the strengths and shortcomings of the existing studies were identified. Building upon this assessment, we put forward a prospect for the establishment of TCM-specific strategies for PE, including more targeted and individualized comprehensive diagnosis and treatment approaches for PE, the establishment of a TCM hierarchical management program, and the exploration of the most effective entry points for collaborative treatment of PE using both TCM and Western medicine. Indeed, integrating therapeutical strategies from the two perspectives in a multifaceted and complex symptom such as PE, would enhance the possibility of success, possibly also reducing side effects. Moreover, with the help of well-established and new scientific and technological tools, we can explore the key links and targets in treating PE by TCM. At the same time, the mechanism of TCM treatment for PE could and should be examined in depth to lay the foundation for widespread clinical application. Finally, we suggest conducting multicenter, nationwide standardized clinical studies on treating PE with TCM. These studies should employ high-quality randomized controlled trial designs to obtain robust evidence-based medical data.