Millions of men suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED), a condition far more common than many men realize. While ED can happen at any stage of life, it tends to become more common with age, in part due to vascular changes that affect how much blood flow reaches the penis during sex.
Today, many treatments help men with ED, and one of the newest and most promising is penile shockwave therapy (also called low-intensity shockwave therapy or LiSWT). This innovative approach to ED doesn’t require surgery, injections, or pills, making it a good choice when these other options aren’t feasible or desirable.
As a top provider of men’s health services in New York City, Adult and Pediatric Urology offers penile shockwave therapy to help men improve erectile function and enjoy a more pleasurable, more satisfying sex life. In this post, learn how shockwave therapy works and what the research says about its effectiveness in treating the symptoms of ED.
Like any organ, the penis requires a regular supply of blood to maintain its health and function. Erections happen when circulation to the penis increases, filling the penis with blood and causing it to become hard and rigid.
If you don’t have blood flow to your penis is impaired, it can be a lot more difficult to obtain an erection or to maintain it for an appreciable amount of time, particularly during intercourse when lots of other factors are in play. In fact, circulation issues are the most common cause of ED — so it makes sense to resolve ED symptoms by optimizing penile blood flow.
While ED medications may provide temporary relief, they don’t treat underlying circulation problems, which is why, in time, these drugs often become ineffective. Penile shockwave therapy uses a different approach to address circulation issues without surgery or other invasive techniques.
Penile shockwave therapy uses controlled pulses of low-intensity sound waves that painlessly penetrate the skin. These sound waves stimulate new blood vessel growth and improve circulation to the penis in other ways. As blood flow intensifies, it becomes easier to achieve and maintain erections naturally, without drugs, pumps, or implants.
Shockwave therapy is performed on a regular basis over a period of several weeks, with therapy tailored to your specific needs. In addition to providing its own improvements, therapy can also enhance the effects of ED medications. What’s more, because shockwave therapy doesn’t rely on medications, it won’t cause potentially dangerous interactions with other medicine-based therapies.
Best of all, medical research supports the effectiveness of penile shockwave therapy in men with mild to moderate ED. Plus, data also show it’s effective not only in managing blood flow issues that arise with aging, but also for men with circulation problems due to other underlying health issues, like diabetes.
ED is more than its physical symptoms. It can take a toll on your emotional wellness, too, causing feelings of frustration, sadness, and low self-esteem.
To learn more about penile shockwave therapy and other ED treatments that can improve your sexual wellness and your quality of life, request an appointment online or over the phone with Alfred Shtainer, MD, FACS, and the team at Adult and Pediatric Urology in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, New York, today.
