Does at Home Shockwave Therapy for ED Work?

Shockwave therapy machines are growing in popularity in the home, especially for particular issues such as erectile dysfunction. According to the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 18 million men in the US are dealing with erectile dysfunction to one degree or another. Is there a chance that shockwave therapy will help?

There is evidence that Shockwave Therapy for ED works. The University of Utah Health uses it as one of their treatment protocols for ED. You shouldn’t start shockwave therapy without consulting your doctor first. 

The reason that you should consult your doctor is the unknown. The underlying cause of ED isn’t universal and it isn’t the same for everyone. Something far more dangerous could be going on inside your body that is indirectly affecting your ability to gain an erection. 

Potential Causes for ED

A shockwave therapy machine is designed to address the immediate problem, which is erectile dysfunction, however, if there is an underlying cause that goes beyond blood flow and mentality, and while shockwave therapy may immediately resolve the problem, it won’t resolve the underlying cause/

• Psychological – stress, anxiety, or depression
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Enlarged prostate or prostate cancer
• Low testosterone
• High blood pressure
• Atherosclerosis
• High cholesterol
• Metabolic syndrome
• Parkinson’s disease

The list is more extensive than that but the point is, there is the potential for an underlying cause that could become progressively worse. You’re not going to discover what that issue is if you simply embrace shockwave therapy without consulting your doctor and getting a medical workup. 

With that being said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with trying shockwave therapy, so long as you know what you are doing and how to operate the device. But it is imperative that you consult your doctor if you are dealing with chronic ED.

How Does Shockwave Therapy Work?

Urologists use the term, “low-intensity shockwave therapy” (LiSWT), and there are several terms for several machines out there that are easily confused with one another. For instance, “shockwave therapy” is not the same thing as “radial wave therapy” and it’s important that you make the distinction so you don’t end up with the wrong tech in your hands. 

Some shockwave therapy machines use acoustic waves. These waves are essentially sound and vibration that pulses outward penetrating the tissue and promoting the growth of blood vessels, repairing tissue, and stimulating existing blood vessels. 

Other shockwave therapy machines use mechanical waves, rather than acoustical waves, that accomplish the same thing, except the mechanical wave machines have been shown to be far better than the acoustical variations. 

Shockwave vs Acoustic wave Therapy- click here to learn more

Despite the literature out there on the subject, the acoustical waves, that are so often mentioned, are not the same thing as the mechanical wave treatments utilized at the University of Utah. Dr. John P. Smith, a board-certified Urologist that works in Family Medicine, makes this distinction very clear. 

Best Home Shockwave Therapy Machine for ED

There are many shockwave machines available for home use. The best and most user friendly is The Phoenix. It is FDA approved for treating ED and peyronie’s disease. To read more check out my review of the Best Home Shockwave Therapy Device for ED here.

The Phoenix is the world’s first home-use technology product for men’s sexual health. Powered by clinically-proven soundwaves, the technology targets the root cause of most sexual health concerns experience, by restoring and improving blood flow. The Phoenix is an impressive shockwave therapy device.

Do Shockwave Machines Cause Any Long-Term, Detrimental Effects

There are no long-term detrimental side effects that are known to be associated with this kind of therapy treatment for erectile dysfunction, however, you can cause harm to yourself in the short term if you don’t follow the instructions that are provided with these machines. 

If there is any confusion or potential misunderstanding of the material or the instructions, you should talk to your doctor before using the machine to treat your ED. The last thing that you want is to cause damage “down there” through the improper use of a shockwave therapy machine. 

As we mentioned above, you shouldn’t even consider purchasing one of these machines without the understanding that you are going to set up an appointment with your doctor. Depending on your health insurance, or lack thereof, you may not be able to set up an immediate appointment with a urologist.

If that’s the case, then you need to get a referral by going to an appointment with a general practitioner and/or your family doctor. If they think that there is a viable reason for you to schedule an appointment with a urologist, then they will refer you. 

It may turn out that your ED issue is a psychological problem and a few treatments with a shockwave treatment device will be enough to set your mind right on the issue, alleviate stress, and reduce anxiety over your bedroom life, which is a common cause of ED.

While the machine itself, if used in the way that is intended, won’t cause any damage or detrimental effects, it may turn out that there is an underlying, undiagnosed, health issue going on that is directly associated with your ED. That’s why seeing a doctor before using this machine is imperative. 

It may be that a shockwave machine approach harms you indirectly. The reason being is the machine might solve the immediate symptom of ED, inadvertently masking an ongoing health issue that you are completely unaware of. 

If your looking for a less expensive alternative to shockwave therapy treatment check out my post on using a TENS unit for ED here.

Final Thoughts

Shockwave technology therapy for erectile function has been shown to help, whether in a hospital environment or in the comfort of your own home. It’s not 100%, however, because there may be something else going on that you are unaware of. 

We can’t express enough how important it is to consult with your doctor before purchasing a shockwave machine because though it may work for you, it’s far more important to determine the cause of your ED, rather than just trying to treat it.

FAQ

References

N/A (April 12, 2021). Do Home Shockwave Therapy ED Treatment Machines Work?
Retrieved from: https://manhattanmedicalassociates.com/do-home-shockwave-therapy-ed-treatment-machines-work/

Shockwave Therapy for ED at Home: The Facts You Need to Know
Retrieved from: https://oceanusamerica.com/shockwave-therapy-for-ed-at-home-the-facts-you-need-to-know/