Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the failure to have and maintain an erection necessary for sexual satisfaction. Difficulties getting or keeping an erection can be caused by a number of physical and emotional attributes, such as anxiety, smoking, drinking, recreational drugs, some prescribed medications, and growing older.
Shockwave therapy has existed for many years as a medical treatment. It is frequently utilised as a non-invasive approach for treating kidney stones and orthopaedic ailments. Urologists have recently begun using this method to treat erectile dysfunction (ED).
What Is Shockwave Therapy?
Clinically, shockwave therapy is referred to as low-intensity shockwave therapy (LiSWT). It is a non-invasive therapy that has been utilised for years in orthopaedics to aid in the healing of fractured bones, torn ligaments, and torn tendons.
Shockwave therapy has been utilised to promote wound healing because it can accelerate tissue repair and cell production by targeting high-energy sound waves.
Penile tissue needs a strong blood supply for erections. Shockwave therapy is regarded positively as a method for rebuilding and strengthening penile blood vessels and enhancing blood flow.
How Does Shockwave Therapy For ED Work?
Shockwave therapy uses acoustic waves that form a compression pulse and transfer energy as they travel through an element. Focused shock waves connect with the targeted deep tissues, acting as temporary micromechanical stresses that create biological changes in the blood vessel cells and diminish fibrosis when administered to an organ.
In shockwave therapy for ED, a wand-like instrument is used to direct sound waves at the penis from various angles. A medical practitioner moves the instrument along the penis for approximately 15 minutes while emitting moderate pulses. No anaesthetic is required.
The pulses cause a rise in penile blood flow and tissue formation. Both of these modifications can result in sexually satisfying erections.
The success of shockwave therapy for ED treatment stems from two methods:
- Promotes angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels) in the penis, which improves blood flow to the penis, resulting in stronger erections.
- Rejuvenates the penis’s smooth muscle — Most patients with erectile dysfunction have damaged smooth muscle in their penile arteries, which inhibits the veno-occlusive mechanism. Shockwave therapy has been demonstrated to stimulate the body to restore the smooth muscle in the penis.
Candidates For Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy has the potential to treat all patients with erectile dysfunction and enhance erection for men who have never had any issues with this before, making it useful as a preventative measure. The most effective course of treatment can only be determined after a thorough diagnostic assessment has been performed.
However, patients who fail the intra-cavernosal injection test are not suitable candidates for shockwave therapy since this indicates irreparable impairment to the erection mechanism and negates the likelihood of benefiting from this treatment technique.
What To Expect At The First Treatment Session?
Shockwaves will be administered to numerous locations surrounding the penis shaft during therapy. Patients may feel a mild tingling but should not experience discomfort or pain. Treatment sessions typically run between 12 and 15 minutes. Your therapist will evaluate the number of recommended treatments at your initial assessment. This amount may be changed based on outcomes. As this is a non-invasive operation, no anaesthetic will be required. Patients may return to normal activities as specified by their physician.
Benefits Of Shockwave Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction
- Addresses the root cause
The majority of impotence issues come from difficulties with blood circulation and retention, both of which are tackled with shockwave therapy.
- Safe Application
One of the advantages of shockwave therapy is that there are no observed adverse effects; it works by promoting natural growth and healing.
- Does not involve prescriptions
Shockwave therapy successfully improves erectile dysfunction without the need for medicines such as injections, tablets, or chemicals.
- Improves blood flow
Shockwave therapy stimulates the creation of new blood vessels, which facilitates increased blood flow to the penis for stronger, longer-lasting erections.
FAQ
Is shockwave therapy painful?
The therapy operates on low-intensity, high-frequency sound waves, so the paints may experience a faint tingling sensation; but no pain or discomfort is reported.
How many treatment sessions do you need?
Sessions typically last between 15 and 20 minutes. Six to eighteen sessions are often required to treat erectile dysfunction, though this number can rise or fall based on the individual patient’s needs.
Are the results permanent?
Shockwave therapy is demonstrated to provide permanent and long-lasting results. However, a patient’s way of life may also play a role in erectile dysfunction. Shockwave therapy can be effective, but if the underlying issues aren’t addressed, the positive effects may wear off over time.