Dr. Mohd Jaffar Shareef

A guy who is hitting the bed with a partner doesn't have time to worry about proper penis function - and yet far too many men do have erectile dysfunction issues that impact the pleasure they and their partners enjoy. Certainly excellent penis care can help decrease the chances of erratic penis function, but sometimes much more is needed to help a man perform at the sexual level he desires. Recent years have seen the development of pills with a significant impact on erectile dysfunction, but now there's something new under the sun which some are suggesting as a treatment: shockwaves.

A big problem

Although men don't like to talk about erectile dysfunction, it is definitely a big problem. According to the Massachusetts Male Aging Study, 40% of men have experienced erectile dysfunction by the time they are 40 years old. By age 70, more than 70% have.

But what exactly is erectile dysfunction? Simply put, it is an inability to attain and maintain an erect penis such that sexual activity can be satisfactory. This may mean the penis cannot become hard enough to achieve penetration, or it may mean it becomes too soft after penetration.

Although there can be many factors that contribute to erectile dysfunction, it very frequently involves ineffective blood flow to the penis. Either a sufficient amount of blood does not fill up the spongy tissue that causes an erection, or the increased blood flow does not reach the spongy tissue in the first place. In such instances, this means that a man may feel quite sexually aroused, but the mechanics that enable an erection do not respond the way they should.

Shockwaves

So why are some scientists suggesting shockwaves as a means of treating this penis function problem? And what are shockwaves, anyway?

Interestingly enough, despite the name, shockwaves don't really have anything to do with electricity. Instead, shockwaves are acoustic waves, created by sound, which carry energy with them.

Shockwaves are frequently used to treat other conditions, such as kidney stones, cardiac issues or joint inflammation. Low level shockwaves are targeted to a highly specific area, such as a kidney stone. This causes the stone to break up so it can then pass out of the urinary tract.

The idea with using shockwaves to correct penis function is that the acoustic waves cause tiny, microscopic tears in the penile blood vessels. The body responds to this with a process known as neovasculization, which basically means it creates new blood vessels in the afflicted area. By creating new penile blood vessels, unobstructed pathways are opened for the blood to flow into the spongy tissue and let that tissue spring up and do its job.

Experimental

Shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction is still in the experimental stages and has not been approved in the U.S. But many scientists and doctors think it holds great promise. One of the advantages to it is that, unlike pills taken to help achieve an erection, the effects of shockwave therapy should be longer lasting.

Shockwaves may one day be a common treatment for penis function issues. But even if it becomes standard of care, the penis still needs to be kept in premium health, and that goal is more easily achieved when a man regularly uses a top drawer penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). The best crème will undoubtedly contain L-arginine, an amino acid that helps produce nitric oxide, which in turns helps penile blood vessels open and become receptive to increased blood flow. The crème must also contain vitamin B5, aka pantothenic acid. Vitamin B5 is a vital nutrient required for cell metabolism and the maintenance of healthy tissue.