What Is
Shockwave?

Men can suffer from ED on an intermittent basis.

It’s not unusual for men to experience the occasional failure to achieve an erection, which is usually due to a variety of different reasons such as drinking too much alcohol or being extremely tired at one point in time. However, if this problem occurs more than 50% often then there needs treatment because it may mean something serious going wrong with your health and well-being!

ED can happen for many reasons. ED is most often caused by the narrowed or damaged veins in your body, which are not able to carry blood efficiently enough during sexual stimulation without causing pain. It could also be due to other health issues like high cholesterol and diabetes.

While it may seem scary at first that you’re experiencing erectile dysfunction (ED), don’t worry! Finding out what causes these problems will help treat them effectively so they won’t come back again later down the line. As rule of thumb: whatever good thing does wonders with one aspect of an individual’s life should work well together when looking after both heart AND sex lives alike.

ED can be caused by a number of factors, including:

• Vascular disease: Blood supply to the penis can become blocked or narrowed as a result of vascular disease such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
• Neurological disorders (such as multiple sclerosis): Nerves that send impulses to the penis can become damaged from stroke, diabetes, or other causes.
• Psychological states: These include stress, depression, lack of stimulus from the brain, and performance anxiety.
• Trauma: An injury could contribute to symptoms of ED.

Chronic illness, certain medications, and a condition called Peyronie’s disease can also cause ED. Operations for prostate, bladder, and colon cancer may also be contributing factors.

Aging is a key contributor to the development of erectile dysfunction.

• Vascular causes account for up to 70% of cases of erectile dysfunction.
• High cholesterol and the buildup of arterial plaque over time cause blood vessels to narrow, lessening the capability of your circulatory system.
• The risk of heart disease and diabetes also increases with age which can cause or worsen erectile dysfunction.
• Men’s testosterone levels naturally decline at a rate of 1% a year, starting in a man’s thirties.

Lifestyle choices and health conditions that can also contribute include:

• Smoking
• Obesity
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Poor diet and blood sugar control
• Chronic alcohol/substance abuse

Men with healthier lifestyles – no tobacco, less sitting, more exercise, and who maintain a healthy weight – typically have a lower risk of erectile dysfunction than other men in the same age group.

Complications resulting from erectile dysfunction can include:

• An unsatisfactory sex life
• Stress or anxiety
• Embarrassment or low self-esteem
• Relationship problems
• The inability to get your partner pregnant

The best way to prevent erectile dysfunction is to make healthy lifestyle choices and to manage any existing health conditions. For example:

• Work with your doctor to manage diabetes, heart disease, or other chronic health conditions.
• See your doctor for regular checkups and medical screening tests.
• Stop smoking, limit or avoid alcohol, and don’t use illegal drugs.
• Exercise regularly.
• Take steps to reduce stress.
• Get help for anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns.

ED is a treatable condition and most men are able to return to healthy sexual function.

Many options are available, including first-line treatments such as oral pills (Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra/Staxyn) and the use of mechanical devices like the vacuum erection device (VED). Second-line treatments include penile injections or topical applications with vasoactive medications. Lastly, if reversible treatments fail, a penile prosthesis can be surgically implanted by urologists. All of these options just treat the ED without looking at the underlying cause. These treatments can be sought from your family doctor and other specialists.

At the present time, our clinic only offers treatments that may alter or modify the biological and psychological process causing your erectile dysfunction. These include:

• Erectile Dysfunction Shockwave Therapy (EDSWT): ED Shockwave therapy is an innovative medical treatment that uses low-intensity acoustic sound waves in an attempt to address the vascular cause of erectile dysfunction, and not just its symptoms, by encouraging the growth of new blood vessels. For over 50 years shockwave therapy has been used to treat everything from kidney stones to joint pain, and now erectile dysfunction. It is a safe and natural procedure that does not involve the use of pharmaceuticals, mechanical pumps, injections or surgical implants.

Shockwave therapy has been successfully tested and regularly used in various areas of medicine including Orthopedics, Aesthetic Medicine, and Sports Medicine. There are numerous scientific studies that show shockwave therapy can potentially improve local revascularization (regeneration of blood vessels and enhanced blood flow) on a variety of body parts, including the penis.

The aim of ED shockwave therapy (EDSWT) is to trigger regeneration of blood vessels in the penile shaft to support a stronger, longer, and more satisfying erection. EDSWT is currently considered an investigational treatment modality for ED according to a 2018 erectile dysfunction guideline from the American Urological Association.

Inside the penis is an area called the corpora cavernosa, containing two arteries. An erection occurs when they are filled with blood that’s held in place until ejaculation or orgasm is achieved.

When there is insufficient blood flow, the penis remains flaccid. EDSWT directs energy waves, (extracorporeal shockwaves are the clinical term) with the goal to improve blood flow to the penis.

The successful use of extracorporeal shockwaves is highly documented in many fields of healthcare, including physiotherapy, urology, and pain management.

The waves are targeted to the area of the body where blood flow has been constrained. The procedure is safe for men with heart disease, unlike some erectile dysfunction medications.

The benefits of EDSWT include:

• Generally painless and low-risk treatment
• No known extra major risk to men with complicated health conditions
• No recovery period

Men receive their treatment at our clinic. It’s delivered with a medical device that directs the energy waves to affected areas. Patients are asked to remove their clothing below the waist.

Our doctor or technician will move a wand over the base and shaft of the penis, focusing energy waves on the arteries in the corpora cavernosa.

Patients usually do not experience significant pain or discomfort during the treatment. Some may feel tingling afterward – like you might after your hand or foot falls asleep.

There are no reports that show major risks or complications of shockwave treatment of the penis.

EDSWT takes under a half-hour, making the appointment easy to schedule for working men. There is no downtime or recovery period and you can return to sexual activity immediately.

Typically, a full treatment schedule involves 12 visits over the course of a few weeks

Shockwave therapy helps improve the volume of blood flow into tissue with the goal of helping you achieve harder, longer-lasting erections.

Other treatments for ED, including pills only address the symptoms of the condition and require significant planning and timing.

Shockwave therapy is an option that treats a physiological cause and requires no planning, pills, surgery, implants, and is non-invasive.

The ultimate goal of the shockwave is to help you restore intimacy with your partner.