What Is Shock Wave Therapy And How It Can Help Men With Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction refers to the condition where a man is unable to keep or get a firm erection necessary for satisfactory sex. Such a condition can be short-term or may last a long time. ED is very common in India, affecting 50% of men above age 40.
Being diagnosed with erectile dysfunction or impotence can be frustrating and embarrassing. However, the good news is that the condition is curable.
With advanced Shock Wave Therapy, treating erectile dysfunction in men has become easier and more convenient.

What is Shock Wave Therapy?
Shock Wave Therapy is a non-invasive treatment option that has emerged as a possible cure for men with sexual problems, such as erectile dysfunction. The procedure uses electromagnetic pulses to deliver low-intensity shock waves to the targeted area to help treat a particular condition.

Steps of the Procedure
The steps of Shock Wave Therapy procedure are as follows –

• First, the area that needs to be treated is located using palpation in order to deliver the therapy with precision
• Next, the located area is coated with a sufficient amount of special gel– this is a necessary step of the treatment procedure for the acoustic waves to be transferred smoothly and efficiently.
• The ESWT applicator is pushed slightly against the area to be treated

Treatment sessions vary roughly for 15-20 minutes. Since the procedure is non-invasive, patients do not experience pain. Therefore, no anaesthesia is needed. However, you might feel a tingling sensation in a specific area.

How does Shock Wave Therapy Help Cure Men with ED? 

• Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy uses acoustic wave energy to trigger neovascularisation – a process that leads to the formation of new blood vessels – in certain body parts. This aids in the improvement of blood flow to the region.
• Blood flow is important to a man’s erections. When a man is sexually activated, the arteries of the penis widen to allow blood to flow in. The blood provides firmness to the penis for vaginal penetration. If a man has problems with the flow of blood to the penis, he is likely to experience weaker erections or may have no erection at all.
• There are other treatment options available to men with ED, such as vacuum devices, penile injections, and pills. However, these are conducted typically on an as-needed basis and may work for one particular sexual encounter at a time only. ESWT is different – it targets the erectile mechanism so that men are able to achieve an erection naturally.
• Earlier, Shock Wave Therapy was used for chronic pain conditions and kidney stones. Recent investigations by scientists have shown that Low-intensity ESWT is an effective cure for ED. Clinical trials of ESWT for erectile dysfunction have shown encouraging results. The process is well tolerated by most people. Many have reported improved erections, and even claim to have experienced satisfactory intercourse.