Erectile Dysfunction: How One Treatment Option is Sending Shockwaves Throughout the ED Community
Erectile dysfunction – two words no man ever wants to hear in his life and two words no man should ever have to hear in his life. Unfortunately, those two words are a harsh reality for more than 30 million men in the United States and 320+ million men worldwide – robbing them of their sense of pride and manhood.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) defines erectile dysfunction (ED) as the inability to ‘get or keep an erection firm enough for satisfactory sexual intercourse.’ Also known as impotence, symptoms include not being able to get an erection, not being able to keep an erection, or only getting an erection sometimes.
ED treatment generally consists of prescribing oral medication (Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, Staxyn), injectable medication (alprostadil), and making the right lifestyle changes (quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, regular exercise), but one treatment option is starting to send sending shockwaves throughout the ED community.
So, what is shockwave therapy?
Low-intensity shockwave therapy (LiSWT) is a medical treatment that’s generally reserved for ED patients who aren’t responding well to oral medication. During treatment, low-intensity shock waves are applied to the skin via a handheld probe – a gel is also applied to the skin and acts as an interface for the pulses.
Shockwave therapy can improve the quality of erections and enhance sexual performance by stimulating the growth of new blood vessels in the penis and breaking down plaque build-up found in existing blood vessels – improving blood flow to the penis, which is the primary cause of erectile dysfunction in men.
LiSWT is a non-invasive procedure. It might be a new concept to a lot of people, but the amount of clinical and professional support for shockwave therapy is growing as researchers and scientists continue to study its short-term and long-term effects on erectile dysfunction – more developments are on the way!
One Small Shock for Man, One Giant Leap for Mankind
Shockwave therapy is nothing new to the medical community. It has been around since the 1980s and was initially used to eliminate kidney stones through a procedure called lithotripsy. It wasn’t until the 1990s and 2000s that LiSWT started gaining clinical support for erectile dysfunction treatment.
Let’s take a look at three landmark studies that showcase the positive benefits of LiSWT for ED treatment:
- One study [Vardi et al. 2010] observed 20 patients, aged 56.1 ± 10.7 years, with mild to moderate ED after shockwave therapy. 15 of the men saw an improvement in erectile function, and 14 saw an increase of at least five points on the International Index of Erectile Function - Erectile Function (IIEF-EF).
- Two years later, another study [Gruenwald et al. 2012] observed 29 patients with severe ED to test its efficacy on those who weren’t responding well to oral medication. By the end of the study, 8 of the men were able to achieve normal erections, and 21 of them started responding better to oral PDE5i therapy.
- A third study [Corredor Ayala et al. 2017] observed the effects of LiSWT on 710 ED patients – some were given additional drug treatments for ED, while others were not. Both groups saw an improvement in erection quality, but they concluded a longer treatment duration was needed for longer-lasting results.
Studies show that low-intensity shockwave therapy has the potential to be a safe and effective treatment for erectile dysfunction, but more research is needed to fully confirm its impact on erection quality. With that said, initial results are encouraging, and interest is at an all-time high – so we’re not done just yet!
Are You a Good Candidate for Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy is a revolutionary treatment method for erectile dysfunction, but that doesn’t mean everyone’s a good candidate for it. For example, men with nerve damage due to pelvic cancer surgery and men whose ED is caused by psychological issues typically don’t respond well to LiSWT treatment.
With that said, shockwave therapy works best for:
- Men with mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction
- Men with ED who don’t want to or can’t take oral medication
- Men who aren’t responding well to oral medication
- Men who are interested in giving regenerative therapy a try
Most current treatments for erectile dysfunction are palliative in nature – meaning they relieve symptoms of ED without treating the root cause of it – but shockwave therapy is different. Since vascular diseases are a likely cause in 50-70% of all ED cases, LiSWT is designed to treat erectile dysfunction at its core.
How Can Nü Forma Wellness Lounge Help?
Welcome to Nü Forma – where men of all ages come to seek a healthier, happier, and more rewarding life. We’re currently accepting new patients at our Staten Island and New Jersey locations. If you’re ready to take better control of your health, contact us today!
Outside of shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction, we specialize in the administration of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), peptide therapy, wellness IV drips, and a wide range of aesthetic treatments (Botox, fillers, etc.). You’ll feel right at home from the moment you walk in until the moment you leave!
Are you searching for the best men’s health clinic Staten Island or New Jersey has to offer? Do you want to learn more about how LiSWT can help treat erectile dysfunction? If you answered ‘yes’ to either of those questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at Nü Forma Wellness Lounge – where your health is our No. 1 priority.