Can shockwave therapy improve erectile dysfunction?

This study assessed if delivering a low-power shock to the penis would help erectile dysfunction (ED – difficulty achieving and maintaining an erection). The study found that ED improved over time after shock therapy (a small amount of electricity).

Erectile dysfunction is often caused by problems with blood flow to the penis. This is often treated with drugs, but this does not fix the main problem behind ED. 

Shockwave therapy involves delivering short energy bursts to an area of the body. It has been shown to be effective in heart disease and wound healing. It is possible that shockwave therapy delivered to the penis may increase blood flow over time.

46 men with ED were studied. 30 were given shock therapy and 16 were given a fake therapy. Neither the researchers nor the patients knew who was given each therapy.

After 1 month, 56.7% of the shock therapy group had improvements in erection versus 12.5% in the fake therapy group. This increased to 75% in the shock therapy group after 12 months and to 25% in the fake therapy group. The increase was also gradual over time, at 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months.

This study concluded that low-intensity shock therapy improves blood flow to the penis in ED for up to 12 months.

The study was limited by a small sample size. More research that compares drug therapy with shock therapy should be carried out.

Talk to your doctor about shock therapy to treat your erectile dysfunction.