Understanding the effectiveness of Focused Shockwave Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction.
- Rich Pearson
- Apr 4
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 8
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a widespread issue that impacts millions of men globally. This condition is generally caused by physiological issues (especially for men over the age of 50) and can in turn lead to a man suffering with emotional and psychological stress and anxiety as a result. Over the last few years, an innovative treatment that is gaining huge popularity for the treatment of vasculogenic ED, is Focused Shockwave Therapy.
In this article, we are going to go into more depth on how Shockwave Therapy can potentially help the millions of men who are suffering with ED in the UK. We will look into its effectiveness, the process, potential side effects, and the overall impact on a man's health.
Now might be time to ditch the drugs and get your sex life back on the up again, with the ground breaking technology that is naturally changing the way we help men with ED.
What is Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Shockwave therapy?
Shockwave Therapy - particularly Focused Shockwave therapy, utilises acoustic waves to regenerate tissue and improve blood flow. Initially Shockwave was used for musculoskeletal conditions (MSK) such as tendonitis, but this non-invasive treatment has become an extremely promising ground breaking revolution for the treatment of Erectile Dysfunction.
Shockwave therapy for ED involves sending low-intensity sound waves directly into the penile tissue. This non-invasive and non-painful stimulation, encourages neovascularization - the formation of new blood vessels, which significantly enhances blood circulation to the penis. This is absolutely vital to improve the function of erections.
The success rate of ED Shockwave Therapy is very high (roughly around 75% successful if a man is suffering from mild to moderate Vasculogenic ED).
How does Shockwave Therapy work for Erectile Dysfunction?
Shockwave Therapy works on the process where the body has a natural ability to heal itself. The sound waves initiate a healing response in the penile tissue, which can hugely help to restore a mans erectile function. Shockwave therapy helps with;
Mechanical stimulus: Shockwaves create small micro traumas within the penile tissue, which in turn initiate a biological inflammatory healing processes.
Increased blood flow: This enhanced blood flow works alongside structural changes to increase blood availability during sexual arousal.
Improved tissue health: Shockwave encourages the creation of new blood vessels and the repair of older damaged ones that are not working optimally, which therefore contributes to much healthier erectile tissue.
The benefits of Shockwave Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction.
Shockwave Therapy is a fantastic option for many men who suffer with ED. The major benefits from ED Shockwave are;
Non-invasive treatment
Shockwave Therapy is a non-invasive procedure. Only sound waves are used during ED Shockwave sessions and no invasive procedures such as injections are needed. This can make it a better option on this basis alone than more invasive treatments. Treatment sessions are reasonably fast, and last roughly 20/25 minutes. Patients do not generally need any downtime after the treatment, allowing them to resume their normal activities as usual.
Minimal side effects
The side effects of Shockwave Therapy for ED are very mild, and for most men, nothing at all. Most patients report no discomfort from the Shockwave treatment and only a few men say they feel a very minor discomfort during the procedure. There are no long-term complications whatsoever that have been reported by anyone.
Positive results
Research shows that about 75% of men observe significant improvements in erectile function after completing a series of Shockwave Therapy sessions. These positive outcomes can last, as long as men follow the guidance given by their practitioner on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Before starting a course of ED Shockwave treatment therapy, you should have a consultation session with a men's pelvic health expert, to determine you are a good candidate for proceeding to the ED Shockwave course of six sessions. This is done for two main reasons.
The first is to evaluate your lifestyle, such as diet, medial health conditions, exercise levels and medication for example. We want to make sure everything is as should be.
The second reason is to determine how severe your ED symptoms are and how likely you would be to receive a good positive outcome from the ED Shockwave treatment.
No one will know you are having Erectile Dysfunction Shockwave therapy! Your confidentiality is taken very seriously by ED Shockwave professionals in the world of Men's pelvic health issues and nobody would even know what you would be having treatment for.
What to expect during your ED Shockwave treatment?
The treatment protocol.
For most men, suffering with mild to moderate ED, a typical treatment plan would generally require six sessions, over a three week period (two sessions per week). Each session typically lasts roughly 20/25 minutes, which make the sessions very convenient for fitting into busy lifestyles and schedules.
Patient experience.
During the treatment, patients are comfortably positioned on their back and the men's health practitioner will use a Focused Shockwave handheld device to deliver the acoustic waves to the appropriate areas of the penis. Many describe the sensation as a mild pressure or tingling, and very few men feel any pain at all - even at the highest level of energy distribution the Focused Shockwave machine can reach.
Who can benefit from ED Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave Therapy is most suitable for men who are suffering with mild to moderate vasculogenic ED. These men will have the best chance of success and see much quicker results than someone who is suffering from severe ED.
The majority of men seen in clinic for Erectile Dysfunction are predominately over 45 years old but, we do on occasions also see younger men in clinic from time to time as well.
In theory, even men who don't suffer with ED can also benefit from Shockwave therapy to the penile tissue. Increasing the blood supply to the male reproductive organs is only going to be beneficial and can be used as preventative measures to ensure the risk of ED developing is highly reduced. The better the blood supply to the penile tissue - the better the penis will work, by staying harder and stronger for longer.
Men with severe underlying health issues and therefore severe ED can also benefit from ED Shockwave, but their results will likely take longer and generally will require more sessions than the normal protocol of six sessions.
Potential side effects of ED Shockwave Therapy.
As with any medical treatment, Shockwave Therapy can pose potential side effects. However, the majority of men don't notice any side effects at all but any issues post treatment are usually mild and temporary. These can include;
Discomfort or pain: Some patients could report a mild discomfort during and right after the procedure.
Bruising or swelling: Temporary bruising or swelling may occur in the treated area but this is very unlikely and not normally reported back.
Numbness: A brief feeling of numbness may follow treatment sessions but yet again very rare and unlikely.
These side effects are generally very short-lived, with most patients able to go back to their normal activities straight away after their treatment session for ED.
Research and evidence supporting Shockwave Therapy
There has been a vast amount of time and money invested into Shockwave Therapy for ED and one of the leading Shockwave Therapy manufactures in the world - Storz Medical have been leading the way with clinical studies in the field of Men's health.
Multiple studies validate the effectiveness of Shockwave Therapy for ED. A crucial meta-analysis in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that men receiving Shockwave Therapy had a significantly higher success rate in achieving erectile function compared to those who did not undergo the therapy.
Another study revealed that the efficacy of Shockwave Therapy was similar to that of conventional ED treatments, like oral medication, but offered longer-lasting benefits without relying on the need for ongoing medication such as PDE5 inhibitors.
Exploring the future of Shockwave Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction.
As research progresses, the potential for Shockwave Therapy is set to expand, especially with increasing understanding of the underlying mechanisms. The awareness of Shockwave Therapy as a treatment for ED is ever increasing in this new age of health and technology and an increase of men will likely seek non-invasive alternatives to traditional ED treatments, such as medication.
Combining Shockwave Therapy with other types of treatments.
Shockwave Therapy for ED can be effectively combined with other forms of treatments to enhance results. For example, combining Shockwave therapy with certain lifestyle changes - such as improving a mans diet, increasing the amount of cardiovascular exercise and even potentially visiting a psychological counselor to discuss the issues a man has been suffering from (such as a very high stress lifestyle), can hugely maximise the benefits of the Shockwave treatment and address the root causes of ED for a long term cure.
This should be taken seriously by patients suffering with ED and not overlooked if they are serious about benefitting from the Shockwave treatment for the long term.
Key considerations before starting treatment.
Consult a Healthcare provider: It is always recommended that a male seeking help for ED should visit their GP before undergoing treatment. The GP can evaluate problems that could be a contributing factor towards Erectile Dysfunction and send patients for blood tests to ensure there are no underlying health conditions that could be affecting the function of the penis.
Realistic expectations: Patients should have realistic expectations for ED Shockwave treatment, recognising that while many report significant improvements, outcomes for individuals can vary and like everything in life, nothing can be 100% guaranteed.
Aftercare and follow-up: Follow-up appointments if necessary and maintaining the healthcare advice given at the consultation session are crucial to maintain progress after the course of treatment is completed.
The way forward for game changing and non-invasive ED Shockwave Therapy.
Shockwave Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction is a very exciting development for the treatment of ED. Focused Shockwave offers a fantastic alternative for those men seeking relief from this challenging and debilitating condition.
As research on ED keeps advancing, men suffering with Erectile Dysfunction can anticipate a bright future concerning treatment alternatives that are more readily available on the market. Pairing medical interventions with lifestyle improvements and open conversations about sexual health can enhance ones well-being, quality of their sex life and also their overall quality of life in general - with minimal to no side effects!
Watch this short informative video from Storz Medical on how ED Shockwave Therapy could potentially help men suffering from the frustration of vasculogenic Erectile Dysfunction.
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