Can Shockwave Therapy Help With Erectile Dysfunction (ED)?

Living with erectile dysfunction (ED) isn’t always easy. There are medications that can help treat ED symptoms, but there’s no cure for ED. If you’re looking for treatment options that don’t involve medications, you may have heard about shockwave therapy to treat ED. Shockwave therapy doesn’t have an FDA approval for ED treatment yet. But there’s good evidence it can help treat ED symptoms. There’s even some hope that shockwave therapy could be used to cure some types of ED in the future. 

Does shockwave therapy work for ED?

Shockwave therapy — specifically low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy (Li-ESWT) — has been studied as a treatment for erectile dysfunction. 

In studies, people who received shockwave therapy were more likely to experience improvements in their ED symptoms compared to those who didn’t receive any treatment. Studies also suggest that people with mild to moderate ED tend to respond best to shockwave therapy treatment.

Generally, people who get shockwave therapy notice improved ED symptoms within 1 to 3 months after starting therapy. For example, one review of research highlighted improvements in penile hardness and the ability to achieve and maintain an erection. 

Some studies describe the early improvements as “dramatic.” But most experts advise that people should expect mild to moderate improvements in their ED symptoms.

There’s a reasonable amount of evidence supporting the use of shockwave therapy for ED. But it’s important to keep a few things in mind if you’re considering this option:

• It’s not FDA-approved. Shockwave therapy isn’t FDA-approved for ED treatment. This means the procedure hasn’t gone through the testing that is needed to make sure it works and is safe for most people. 

• It’s not clear how long it lasts. In studies, people saw maximum symptom improvement within 3 months of starting shockwave therapy. Some studies followed people for up to a year after therapy. And in those studies, people still reported improved symptoms at that time. But it’s not clear if these improvements fade over time without treatment. It’s possible you may need shockwave therapy on an on-going basis. 

• There’s no clear protocol for treatment. There’s no standardized treatment protocol for shockwave therapy. This means it’s not clear how many sessions are needed to get the maximum effects. It also means that each physician may use a slightly different amount of energy when treating someone with shockwave therapy. These differences can affect how well the treatment works between people.

• It doesn’t work for everyone. In studies, some people didn’t respond to shockwave therapy. And it’s not entirely clear why. 

How does shockwave therapy work for ED? 

Shockwave therapy doesn’t just treat ED symptoms. It may treat the root cause of ED by increasing blood flow to the penis. 

Low-intensity shock waves are actually just sound waves that carry energy. During shockwave therapy, these shock waves transfer their energy to the blood vessels in the penis. This prompts the body to create new blood vessels in the area. As a result, more blood can flow to the penis. And this blood flow helps people attain and maintain an erection.

The same principle explains how shockwave therapy helps in treating other medical conditions, like heart disease, bone fractures, and burns. In each case, the focused energy from the shock waves causes new blood vessels to form in the area. This improves blood flow and promotes healing. 

What is the shockwave therapy procedure like? 

Shockwave therapy might sound intimidating, but it’s not painful or invasive. 

Urologists and other healthcare professionals who treat erectile dysfunction offer shockwave therapy in their offices. You don’t need anesthesia for the procedure, and you can drive yourself home afterward. Here’s what you might expect during the treatment:

• The shock waves come from a wand-like device that’s hooked up to a machine. 

• Your healthcare professional will place the wand near your penis to deliver the shock waves. 

• The session should last about 15 minutes. 

Since there’s no standard protocol for shockwave therapy, the total number of shock waves you get per treatment will depend on where you go for therapy. The number of sessions you’ll need may also vary. For example, some centers recommend 4 treatments in total, while other centers recommend up to 12 sessions.

What are the risks of shockwave therapy? 

Shockwave therapy for ED is considered to be quite safe. While it’s a newer treatment for ED, shockwave therapy has been used to treat other medical conditions for decades. So, there’s good data on its safety and low risk of side effects.

That said, some people have reported side effects, although these are uncommon. Some reported side effects include:

• Headache

• Dizziness

• Indigestion

• Pain in the penis

• Bleeding or bruising around the penis

• Bloody urine

• Worsening penile curvature

Who should try shockwave therapy for ED? 

Shockwave therapy may work better for certain people with ED. You might be a good candidate for shockwave therapy if: 

• You have mild to moderate ED. Studies suggest that people with milder forms of ED are more likely to benefit from shockwave therapy. It’s not clear how well this therapy works for people with severe ED. 

• You have ED because of poor blood flow. Shockwave therapy helps your body form new blood vessels. So, it’s more likely to be helpful for people who have ED because of poor blood flow. 

• You didn’t respond well to medications for ED. Shockwave therapy can help when traditional ED medications — including phosphodiesterase inhibitors, like sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis) — don’t help. 

• You don’t want to take medication. If you prefer not to take ED medications, shockwave therapy offers a medication-free treatment option. But keep in mind, you can also use shockwave therapy while taking ED medications. In fact, studies suggest that it may help these medications work better. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Ronald W. Dworkin, MD, PhD

Ronald W. Dworkin, MD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist who has been practicing anesthesiology in a community hospital for 30 years. He has taught in the honors program at George Washington University for over 10 years and works as a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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