Shaping the future of men's sexual health: How artificial intelligence can assist in the management and treatment of erectile dysfunction

Abstract

AbstractArtificial intelligence (AI) is a complex combination of multidisciplinary machines and systems that can replicate human‐like cognitive tasks to execute capabilities such as pattern recognition, decision‐making, and problem‐solving. Dating back to the 2000s, AI has been utilized in the medical field, however the interest in this subject has sharply increased over the past several years. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is an increasingly pervasive issue as men age, affecting up to 150 million men worldwide. In the field of men's health, AI has been employed to assist physicians in the evaluation and management of ED. This article aims to summarize the ways in which AI has been utilized in the management of ED, as well as the considerations that must be made when implementing this technology. AI can be utilized for virtual health assistance to protect patient privacy and increase access to care. Augmented reality can aid surgeons in real‐time during operations, as well as be utilized to prepare physicians for situations that they may encounter in the operating room. Pharmaceutical companies can benefit from AI in the interpretation of data, analysis of chemical compounds and in drug development. Additionally, AI can be used to assist patients in post‐procedure recovery in the form of rehabilitation and post‐treatment monitoring. While the utilization of AI in men's health is an exciting venture, there are tremendous ethical and practical considerations that have limited its use in the management of ED.