Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT)

 

What is ESWT?

Low Intensity Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (LI-ESWT) can stimulate the penile vascular endothelial tissue and increase blood flow to the penis.

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Low Intensity Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, or LI-ESWT, is an 18-minute non-surgical procedure we use to treat erectile dysfunction. LI-ESWT benefits patients because their condition can be treated extracorporeally, meaning outside of the body. 

 

LI-ESWT can stimulate the penile vascular endothelial tissue and increase blood flow to the penis. One of the underlying functional causes of ED is poor cavernosal arterial blood flow to the penis.  The low blood flow results in a decreased ability to develop, and maintain an erection, and/or premature draining of an already reduced amount of blood in the penis. LI-ESWT has a genuine physiological effect on the erectile mechanism.

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What are the results like?

Various clinical studies have been conducted since 2010, and shown that effects of ESWT treatment of ED can last beyond 6 months, in some cases even beyond 12 months.

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In a recent study, 94% of patients with non-severe cases of ED showed lasting success after 6 months. 71.4% of patients with severe cases of ED showed lasting success after 6 months.

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How does it work?

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

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

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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.

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

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