Shockwave therapy: the words alone can sound a little startling! But before you panic scroll, we promise it's not as wild as it sounds.
There's a variety of treatments available for erectile dysfunction, just like any other health condition. For some people who aren't responding to medication, shockwave therapy might be an option they want to explore.
But what is shockwave therapy? And how does it work? In this article, we'll go through all the ins-and-outs of shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction. We'll also explore some other treatment options, so you can make informed choices about your health.
What is erectile dysfunction? What causes it?
There's no getting around it: erectile dysfunction (or ED) is part of life for many people. In fact, erectile dysfunction affects over 2 in every 3 men over the age of 45 — with it becoming more common as people age [1].
ED doesn't just refer to having trouble getting an erection. It can also involve difficulty keeping an erection, or difficulty having sex due to reduced erection hardness [1].
There's a lot of factors that can lead to erectile dysfunction, including:
- Reduced blood flow to the penis caused by clogged arteries
- Hormonal problems (including problems with your thyroid or growth hormones)
- Alcohol, smoking/vaping, or other substance use
- General ageing
- Certain diseases and chronic health conditions
- Certain medications
There can also be psychological elements to ED. Whether you're more stressed than usual, going through some relationship issues, nervous about being with a new partner, or experiencing mental health issues — all of these things could be linked to erection problems [1].
What is shockwave therapy?
The extra fancy name goes like this: low intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy. For the purposes of this article, we'll just be calling it 'shockwave therapy'.
Around 40 years ago, scientists and doctors started using shockwave therapy to treat a number of health concerns.
The original use was to get rid of kidney stones — later, it began to be used for wound healing and other conditions. These days, it's being used more frequently to heal injured ligaments, tendons or soft tissue in the body [2].
And no, it doesn't mean lots of wires in places they shouldn't be (or a risk of electrocution).
Shockwave therapy involves a doctor or qualified health professional using a machine to send shockwaves (or waves of energy) to a particular area in your body.
To treat erectile dysfunction, a doctor will hold a wand like device near the penis for a short period of time. These shock waves then send gentle pulses to the penile tissue.
When this happens, researchers say it can cause improved blood flow, strengthening of blood vessels, and changes in the erectile tissue. All of these things can help with getting and keeping erections [3].
Does shockwave therapy work for erectile dysfunction?
If we're being totally honest — the jury is still out on this one. There's been a range of studies done on how well shockwave treatment works for erectile dysfunction, but the evidence is still limited [2].
One study that took place in 2010 involved 20 participants who were diagnosed with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (meaning they had problems with the veins and arteries that control blood flow to the penis).
During the study, they each received 12 sessions of low intensity shockwave therapy — and afterwards, their erectile function scores significantly improved [4].
Other clinical studies have involved patients who didn't previously respond to erectile dysfunction medications, or those who had developed ED after a surgery. Again, there were signs of improvement after they'd received the low intensity shockwave therapy [4].
The issue with these findings is that there's not always consistent measures or treatment protocols being used in each study.
Different therapy devices were used, people received a different number of treatments, and different surveys were given to patients — making the results of these studies hard to generalise to the wider population [4].
A lot of these studies only had small sample sizes, and short follow-up times. Less than 50% of patients in the trials showed long-term improvement in their erectile function.
There was also a strong possibility of bias and placebo effects happening (4).
TLDR? A systematic review of the clinical trials says results are mixed, and should be interpreted with caution.
There's not enough evidence to prove shockwave therapy definitely helps erectile dysfunction in a long-term, meaningful way. Further research is needed before we could start 100% recommending this as a treatment option [4].
How much does shockwave therapy cost?
Like we mentioned above, shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction is a relatively new treatment (especially in Australia). After reviewing some of the services available in Australia, shockwave treatment for ED can cost anywhere from $200-$300 per treatment session.
Because a course of treatment may take between 6-12 sessions, you could be looking at a cost of up to $3600. Unfortunately, at this stage, ED treatment with shockwave therapy isn't covered by Medicare.
Who's a good candidate for shockwave therapy?
Because of the limited evidence of how well shockwave therapy works, there's not really a standard for who the ideal candidate is for this treatment. But some researchers suggest it's only suitable for people with mild to moderate ED [5].
This means that it may not be suitable for people with certain health conditions (specifically those that affect blood flow and nerve function) or with more severe ED symptoms.
Are there any risks?
We know you've been waiting to ask — does shockwave therapy hurt? Most people say no, and that the worst you'll feel is a mild tingling pain. Even though it's a noninvasive treatment, there are still risks of side effects. These could include [6]:
- Bruising on the skin of the penis
- Painful erections after treatment
- Infections or pain
- Blood in urine
- Difficulty having sex
Again, because there aren't a lot of studies that show the long term effects of this treatment, it's hard to know all of the possible adverse effects.
If you're considering shockwave therapy, it's really important to chat to your GP or healthcare provider about what to expect.
Proven ways to treat ED
Luckily for those of us unsure about shockwave therapy, there's other tried and true methods for treating erectile dysfunction. There are also lifestyle changes you can make that can help ED symptoms [7].
Your doctor might encourage you to try things like quitting smoking or vaping, getting more exercise, or eating a healthier diet. There's some evidence to suggest that weight loss can help with erectile dysfunction [7].
If symptoms are still happening, it could be time to consider medical treatments or, for people with more advanced ED, there are other options available — but they can be more invasive treatments.
This could include penile injections — where you inject a medicine into the penis when you want to have an erection (after a doctor has shown you how). Other people may opt for surgery, or other devices such as a penis pump to help with erections [1].
If you and your doctor have discussed the psychological causes of ED, they may recommend you get some counselling to help. This could be on your own, or with your partner — depending on what will help most [1].
Getting started with treatment
Feeling overwhelmed, or not sure where to start? You're not alone. It can be a bit daunting to chat about this stuff — but that's where Pilot's team of clinicians come in.
Instead of needing a face-to-face session, you can get all the info you need online. Just fill out a quiz, book your telehealth consult with one of our practitioners, and leave the rest up to us.
There are different treatment options available depending on what suits your needs. The best bit?
Unlimited follow-ups and refills sent directly to your door, meaning way less trips to the chemist or doctor's office. We're here to make treatment as painless and nonjudgemental as possible.
With so many people experiencing ED at least once in their lives, there's no shame in asking for help when you need it.
Whether this is something that's been going on for a while, or has just started happening recently — there's support available. You'll be back to having fun in the bedroom before you know it!
Image credit: Pexels/Tima Miroshnichenko
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