Did you know that according to a study done by John Hopkins University that more than 18 million men have erectile dysfunction (ED)?
Many men turn to medications or invasive medical procedures to try to correct ED. Unfortunately, these options are not for everyone. Many of the medications either do not work, require planning ahead of time to take, and have unwanted side effects.
Luckily, some urologists have found men responded well to shockwave therapy to help them treat the underlying cause of some forms of ED.
Keep reading on to learn more about shockwave therapy as a treatment option for erectile dysfunction.
What Is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive and pill-free treatment option for some men who suffer from erectile dysfunction. The official title for shockwave therapy is low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy or Li-ESWT. However, it’s more commonly referred to as just shockwave therapy.
Unlike some medications and injections out there for ED that allow for a temporary fix, shockwave therapy serves as a long-term treatment option for erectile dysfunction.
Shockwave therapy may be successful long-term because it helps restore and improve blood flow to the erectile tissues. Good blood flow is essential for an erection.
How Does Shockwave Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction Work?
Shockwave therapy uses noninvasive low-intensity sound waves. These waves pass through the erectile tissue. Once these sound waves pass through the tissue, they can clear out the plaque from the blood vessels in the penis.
By removing the plaque, blood flow is restored. This restores natural erectile functions and encourages new blood vessels to grow and repair themselves.
Who May Benefit From Shockwave Therapy for ED?
Erectile dysfunction is a problem that isn’t talked about frequently, but it affects more men than you probably realize. According to a study done by The Cleveland Clinic, 40% of men by the age of 40 have experienced ED. This number continues to go up as men age. At 70 years old, 70% of men were found to suffer from erectile dysfunction.
Shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction works best for men who suffer from mild ED. In addition, men who don’t respond well to traditional medications for erectile dysfunction or men who are no interested in taking medications may benefit from shockwave therapy.
Some research suggests that shockwave therapy may improve how effective oral medications for ED work.
There are several types of erectile dysfunction, but a common type of ED is vasculogenic dysfunction. The cause of vasculogenic ED is an inadequate blood supply to the penis. Since shockwave therapy helps increase blood supply to the penis, it may be the best treatment option for men who suffer from this type of ED.
How Is the Procedure Done?
Some choose to go to a doctor for this procedure it is not the only option. The EDX from Fluent allows you to perform shockwave therapy in the comfort of your own home without a doctor or prescription.
The EDX is compact and user-friendly. To perform shockwave therapy use the handheld probe. This device can deliver a set power level and time for the treatment to last.
A gel is applied between the probe and you. The gel serves as an interface to conduct the shockwave pulses.
The probe is placed over an area for about 5 minutes and is slowly guided over the area. To complete the therapy typically takes about 15 to 20 minutes. However, there are some cases where repeated treatments are required.
The procedure is fairly quick and painless. Shockwave therapy is non-invasive and requires no anesthetic or needles. Once the procedure is over, you should be able to drive and do all normal activities.
Over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help relieve the pain and discomfort you may experience after the procedure. As always, check with your healthcare provider before taking any medications.
Possible Side Effects
More research will help determine the long-term effectiveness and side effects of shockwave therapy as a treatment option for erectile dysfunction. However, so far, the side effects found are minimal and temporary.
The research shows improvement in erectile function and has a good safety record showing minimal and temporary side effects. Some of the side effects that some men experience due to shockwave therapy include:
- Bruising of the area
- Blood in urine
- Skin infection of the area
- Painful erection
Due to these side effects, some men experience painful or difficult sexual intercourse. However, these side effects are temporary. With more research and long-term studies, shockwave therapy can be determined if it is the best treatment practice.
Hesitation
Shockwave therapy is not a new medical treatment. It has been around for many years as a non-invasive treatment option for medical problems. In addition, it helps treat other medical problems such as kidney stones and orthopedic injuries.
Recently urologists have tried using shockwave therapy to help erectile dysfunction. So far, it has seemed successful for many men suffering from ED.
However, it is important to note that shockwave therapy is still a relatively new therapy and treatment option for ED. Currently, the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved shockwave therapy for the treatment of ED.
It is still being researched and investigated and doesn’t have much long-term data yet. There is ongoing research to try to get this as an FDA-approved treatment option.
While this makes some people hesitant to try shockwave therapy, the clinical studies so far have all reported positive initial findings for the use of shockwave therapy as a treatment option for erectile dysfunction. It is also the only ED treatment option that does not require medication or invasive procedures.
Try Shockwave Therapy to Treat Erectile Dysfunction Today
If you or your partner suffer from erectile dysfunction, don’t feel like you are alone. In the past, medications and invasive procedures were the only answers. But today, there is another non-invasive option.
Shockwave therapy helps improve blood flow to the area. Which helps treat the underlying cause of ED. Treating the underlying cause can lead to a long-term cure, so you will not have to worry about frequently popping in a pill before things get heated. For more information and to try shockwave therapy, contact Fluent today and try their product EDX to help treat ED.
