Aside from penile implants and lifestyle changes, techniques that include medication and injections represent on-demand treatment options. Acoustic Wave Therapy could be an alternative.

Inadequate blood supply to the penis is a common underlying cause of ED, known as vasculogenic ED. Acoustic Wave Therapy may work best for people with this condition because it increases blood supply.

What is shockwave therapy? How does it work?

Acoustic Wave Therapy is an alternative, non-invasive treatment for ED. Practitioners may refer to Shock Wave Therapy for ED as low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave treatment (LI-ESWT).

LI-ESWT for ED works by applying low-intensity shock waves to the penis. A practitioner uses a handheld probe to administer these. A gel is used as an interface to conduct the shock pulses.

People do not usually need an anesthetic, but they may experience a tingling sensation in the treatment area.

A practitioner will apply a set amount of shocks per minute, for a fixed amount of time. A session may last 15–20 minutes, and people may require repeat treatments.

The energy from shock wave therapy stimulates new blood vessel growth through a process called angiogenesis. This increases penile blood flow which improves erectile function.

LI-ESWT may also improve the effectiveness of pde5 inhibitors, which are oral drugs to treat ED.

A 2017 study looked at the effects of LI-ESWT on ED in 710 people. Each participant received five weekly 20-minute sessions. Some also had additional drug treatments for ED.

The study results showed LI-ESWT caused a significant improvement in erection quality in people with and without additional medication.

The researchers suggest that a longer treatment duration may provide better and longer-lasting results.

How low-intensity shockwave therapy boosts blood flow?

Erections require a sufficient blood supply, and anything that limits blood flow to the penis — such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes — can lead to ED.

With LISWT, a physician uses a wand-like device to deliver mild shockwaves to the penis. Studies have found that the treatment is associated with the growth of new blood vessels and the recruitment of stem cells to the penis.

In a recent meta-analysis of 10 randomized controlled trials involving a total of nearly 900 men with vasculogenic ED, researchers reported that, compared with sham treatment, LISWT resulted in significant improvements in measures of erectile function and penile blood flow.

For men with vasculogenic ED, LISWT is recommended to be provided once a week for six weeks.

Will it work for me?

Generally speaking, a focused shockwave should work for you. Like any medical treatment, a successful outcome is reliant on several variables and there are no absolutes. It has become the standard for ED treatment in Europe, Asia, Canada, and other medically advanced countries because it works.

What else is Shockwave Therapy used for?

Originally developed to treat kidney stones and gallstones, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has been used for more than two decades to treat an increasing number of musculoskeletal conditions, such as tennis elbow, rotator cuff tendinitis, patellar tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, and bony nonunion. ESWT is thought to induce tissue regeneration and neovascularization, induce pain relief via hyperstimulation analgesia, and in the case of tendinopathies, disintegrate calcified deposits. The shock waves are extremely helpful for treating Peyronie’s disease.

A 2019 review of clinical studies report positive initial results from LI-EWST, with a good safety record and an improvement in erectile function.

Consult one of our doctors before deciding on a treatment option for ED.