Shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction is still considered an experimental treatment option. There is some data to support its effectiveness, but research is being done to determine its effectiveness. There is some data to support its effectiveness, but research is being done to determine its long-term efficacy and whether it can replace or be offered in conjunction with other proven treatments for erectile dysfunction. In addition, the PSV showed a significant increase compared to its baseline value in the experimental group, indicating that the hemodynamic function of the penis, after the application of the treatment, provides objective data showing an improvement in erectile dysfunction thanks to Li-ESWT.
These results suggest that Li-ESWT can improve erectile function both subjectively (validated questionnaires) and objectively (penile hemodynamics) in patients with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction. Petar Bajic is once again joining the Butts and Guts podcast, this time to talk about treating erectile dysfunction (ED) with low-intensity shockwave therapy. Listen to learn more about how this type of therapy is used to treat erectile dysfunction. Shockwave therapy, as I said, is used for different applications.
It is usually associated with more pain when applied to a bone, and there are no bones in the penis, contrary to popular belief. Therefore, it is usually not painful. The difference is whether the sound waves are focused and create a shock wave inside the body or not. So, if it's just a sound wave that's not focused, it doesn't create the same type of energy in the tissues that stimulates the healing response or the development of a new blood supply, which is what we're trying to achieve with shockwave therapy.
So, if you look at what's published about radio wave therapy, when it comes to the highest-quality studies available, essentially all of them show that radio waves don't actually help this type of erectile dysfunction. While the available literature is not perfect and we need more high-quality studies with long-term follow-up, the data supporting shockwave treatment is much more promising. So, I compare radio wave therapy basically to the kind of waves that come out of my mouth right now. So they're just sound waves, whereas shockwave therapy is really something different.
And the reason for this is that erectile dysfunction is often the first sign of more serious health problems, such as cardiovascular disease. I always refer to her as “the canary in the coal mine”. Therefore, men can experience erectile dysfunction five years before a heart attack. Therefore, especially for men who may not have been good at following up annually with their primary care doctor for a routine physical exam, if you have erectile dysfunction, you should let your doctor know, since it's not just about taking a pill or other treatment that can help strengthen erections, but about obtaining the necessary diagnoses to better understand the cause of that problem.
Unfortunately, to date, those two haven't had the same level of evidence to support their use. Therefore, to the extent that our professional societies determine which types of products are ready for prime time and which are not, the general recommendation is that they should only be performed as part of a clinical trial. So, the bottom line is that we haven't reached that point yet. However, the hope is that over the next five to ten years, as these therapies mature and more research becomes available, new options may be offered to our men within the scope of what they will cover the insurance.
And if you want to do your own research online, be sure to use reliable sources of information, such as the Cleveland Clinic website, where we have a lot of information, including videos you can watch to learn about the treatment options available for erectile dysfunction. There are newer things, such as shock wave therapy, but there are also others that have been around since the 1970s and are covered by insurance. So, learn and discuss these things with your doctors when appropriate, and even with your loved ones, because sometimes just having that initial conversation with your spouse or a friend can make you more comfortable talking about it and discussing it with your primary care doctor. Penile shock wave therapy is usually effective for men with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction, especially those whose condition is caused by poor circulation.
Men with more serious erectile dysfunction or with erectile dysfunction related to other medical conditions, such as diabetes or prostate problems, may not experience as significant benefits from therapy. It is important to distinguish shock wave therapy from radio wave therapy, which is often advertised as a non-invasive treatment for erectile dysfunction available in both medical and non-medical facilities. Shockwave therapy seems to work best for people with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction, which is a disorder of the blood vessels that affects blood flow to penile tissue. Most people can resume normal activities the day after shockwave therapy, but the urologist will consider whether you should restrict your activity for longer to recover.
Therefore, it would be someone who would be a candidate for shock wave therapy and the expectation would be that they would still have to take the pill. The unauthorized use of low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) is gaining popularity in the United States, in part due to widespread publicity. The study also evaluated whether risk factors for erectile dysfunction, such as age or different diseases, such as diabetes or heart conditions, influenced the results obtained, and concluded that studies with participants who had more serious risk factors had worse results than studies with participants who had milder risk factors. Shockwave therapy is often recommended for patients who don't respond well to medications or who don't want more invasive treatments.
Since shockwave therapy is a fairly new treatment for erectile dysfunction that isn't covered by insurance plans, the urologist may first recommend other treatment options for erectile dysfunction. In addition, a statistically significant improvement in the IIEF-EF score was observed in patients with moderate and severe erectile dysfunction. Unlike medications that mask symptoms, penile shock wave therapy works by treating the root causes of erectile dysfunction, which can provide longer-lasting relief. Shockwave therapy is now approved by the FDA in a low-energy environment for certain conditions, such as plantar fasciitis and chronic wounds that don't heal.
Some doctors may still offer shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction, but its use outside of a research setting is considered unauthorized. The procedure has not been thoroughly studied in men with severe erectile dysfunction or other health problems, such as diabetes, prostate cancer, or heart diseases.