Blue pills aren’t a holy grail

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Pills do not work for everyone. “They [interfere] with certain health conditions, and many men discontinue their use for different reasons. But most importantly, they’re temporary, and they do not change the underlying pathophysiology of the condition.” Shockwave therapy, is a new paradigm of ED treatment that appears effective in changing the health of the penile tissue.

The science behind shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction is promising. ED is a frustrating condition that experts say affects some 50 percent of men between the ages of 40 and 70. Treatment consists of noninvasive low-intensity sound waves that pass through erectile tissue, restoring natural erectile function by clearing plaque out of blood vessels and encouraging the growth of new blood vessels. The shockwave treatment offers a cure in that it reverses the problems that cause the dysfunction in the first place.

Shockwave Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction: Does It Work?

The clinical term for shockwave therapy is low-intensity shockwave therapy (LiSWT). It’s a noninvasive therapy that’s been used in orthopedics for years to help heal broken bones, injured ligaments, and injured tendons.LiSWT has also been used to improve wound healing. Using targeted high-energy sound waves, LiSWT can speed up tissue repair and cell growth.

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Erections rely on healthy blood flow to the penile tissue. Shockwave therapy is viewed favorably as a way of repairing and strengthening blood vessels in the penis and improving blood flow.Increasing blood flow to the penis is the same goal of more traditional ED treatments, such as oral medications, including sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis).

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Any risks and side effects?

Shockwave therapy is painless for most men. And as previously stated, available research has found few, if any, side effects. However, that doesn’t mean that the procedure is safe. It’s still a relatively new therapy, and more research needs to be done to determine side effects, complications, and long-term effectiveness.