Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common condition that affects many men. While there are a variety of treatments available, acoustic wave therapy has recently emerged as a promising option. Acoustic wave therapy, also known as Shockwave or GAINSWave, is a non-invasive procedure that stimulates the corpora cavernosa (arteries of the penis) and associated nerve tissue. Studies have shown that this treatment can provide incredible improvements for more than 75% of patients with ED.
The procedure begins with a topical anesthetic solution applied to the patient's genitals. Depending on the patient's health and individual response to pain, different solutions with different strengths are used. If a patient is especially nervous about pain, a dorsal block of the penis can be used to completely block the nerve response during therapy. The emergency specialist will monitor the numbness to ensure that the effect wears off as soon as possible, 2 ½ to 4 hours.
Research has shown that acoustic wave therapy can improve penile pain in patients with Peyronie's disease, but it does not improve or correct the curvature of the penis. It is also suitable for most men suffering from ED, although there are some conditions or contraindications that mean that acoustic wave is not an option. In a review of 14 studies of men who received low-intensity extracorporeal acoustic wave (LI-ESWT) treatment for ED, there was evidence that these men experienced improvements in their ED after LI-ESWT. Low-intensity shockwave therapy on the penis may help men with severe ED who do not respond to conventional treatment with phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE) inhibitors.
Acoustic wave therapy for ED is affordable and results are much more spontaneous, immediate and long-term than many other methods. For even greater erectile rejuvenation, acoustic wave therapy can be combined with P-Shot (platelet-rich plasma), which adds a high concentration of growth factors to strategic areas according to a patented protocol. Low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy (LI-ESWT) is a novel modality that has been recently developed to treat ED. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has been clinically investigated and applied in several medical fields with varying degrees of success.
While providers in Europe and elsewhere promote treatment and charge patients for it, Dr. Georgios Hatzichristodoulou, associate professor of urology at the Julius-Maximilians University of Wí¼rzburg in Germany, has conducted several of the European studies on the use of shock wave therapy for ED and Peyronie's disease and continues to offer shockwave therapy only in the field of research and does not charge men for treatment.
