Shockwave therapy is a modern treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED). Shockwave therapy works best for those with vasculogenic ED, which is a blood vessel disorder that affects blood flow to the tissue in the penis. The therapy’s effectiveness with other causes of ED remains to be seen.
Erectile dysfunction is the major source of embarrassment for adult men of all ages and it can lead to clinical depression, a big decrease in quality of life, and or loss of meaningful significant human relationships. Many men initially try oral medications for erectile dysfunction such as Viagra, Levitra, or Cialis. While these medications may initially work for some patients, they can be incredibly expensive, they are sometimes not available on-demand and most importantly, they do not address the actual cause of erectile dysfunction—an impairment in blood flow.
What is shockwave therapy? The clinical term for shockwave therapy is low intensity shockwave therapy (LiSWT). It’s a noninvasive therapy that’s been used in orthopedics for years to help heal broken bones, injured ligaments, and injured tendons. LiSWT has also been used to improve wound healing. Using targeted high-energy sound waves, LiSWT can speed up tissue repair and cell growth. Erections rely on healthy blood flow to the penile tissue. Shockwave therapy is viewed favorably as a way of repairing and strengthening blood vessels in the penis and improving blood flow. Increasing blood flow to the penis is the same goal as more traditional ED treatments, such as oral medications, including sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis).
Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is the most common sex problem that men report to their doctor. It affects as many as 30 million men. ED is defined as trouble getting or keeping an erection that’s firm enough for sex. It’s not rare for a man to have some problems with erections from time to time. But ED that gets worse or happens routinely with sex is not normal, and it should be treated.
How does it work? Shockwave therapy for ED is administered with a wand-like device placed near different areas of the penis. A healthcare professional moves the device along parts of your penis for about 15 minutes while it emits gentle pulses. No anesthesia is needed. The pulses trigger improved blood flow and tissue remodeling in the penis. Both of these changes can lead to erections sufficient for sex. There’s currently no established recommendation for treatment period or frequency. However, a 2019 review and meta-analysisTrusted Source of clinical trials found that the most common treatment plan was twice weekly for 3 weeks, followed by 3 weeks without treatments, and another 3 weeks of twice-weekly treatments. The analysis found that the effects of shockwave therapy lasted about a year.
Shockwave therapy is a medical treatment that has been around for many years. It is often used as a non-invasive treatment option for kidney stones and orthopedic injuries. Recently, urologists have begun using this therapy to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). The clinical term for this treatment used by urologists is low-intensity shockwave therapy (LiSWT). During the treatment, a small wand-like device uses targeted sound waves to stimulate penile tissue and encourage blood flow, which can also speed up the healing process. Low-intensity shockwaves have also been shown to grow new blood vessels and improve blood flow in the penis, which is essential for erections.
Getting and maintaining an erection requires sufficient blood supply to your penis. Anything that limits that blood flow — such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes — can lead to less-than-firm results. Research has shown that LISWT can restore and strengthen blood vessels in your penis to improve blood flow and make an erection … well, more erect.
