How shockwave therapy helped my ED

Over the last five weeks I received mechanical shockwave therapy (SWT) to help with my ED. It has worked well for me. It’s not for everyone, but I think this method deserves more attention and wider discussion. It’s not about electric shocks! It is also known as acoustic wave therapy and designated as both “extracorporeal” and “Low Intensity” shockwave therapy.

I described what the treatment is like in a previous post. The clinic I went to consistently treated me in a professional, friendly, open, respectful and positive way throughout the process. I was really impressed that every person I engaged with was clear that their goal is to contribute to patient health, and not to get rich quick. My entire treatment cost less than 600 Canadian dollars and it was definitely a good investment for me.

For those interested in the physics of shockwaves, here is some useful detail on the similarities and differences between ultrasound waves and shockwaves.

The impact of shockwave therapy on my erections

I had six 20-minute treatment sessions over about a month. Within two sessions, I noticed my erections getting firmer and more durable. I heard it is helpful to support the treatment by using a vacuum erectile device regularly so I did that several times a week. By the completion of six sessions I feel like I have an old friend back between my legs. It feels great!

The actual treatment didn’t really generate much sensation during the sessions. At times I felt a mild prickly sensation when they were treating the shaft of my penis (SWT probe in position A above). When they were treating the roots of the penis through the perineum (position B in image above) I got more of a deep healing feeling.

When I am aroused during either solo or partnered sex, I am finding my erections about 20% stronger than before. I also get more frequent and stronger spontaneous nocturnal erections. And the experience of more durable erections has reminded me what a good sex toy an erection is. It has been fun having something firm enough that it can be aimed or angled for greater pleasure during sexual intercourse.

My erectile health before treatment

My erections were durable and reliable until I had prostate cancer treatment five years ago. It took about a year for nerve regeneration to reach the point where general arousal without direct genital touch (for example, kissing my wife, or reading an erotic story) translated into a swelling in my trousers again the way it always did before. So I knew that while the erectile nerves were damaged by my treatment, they weren’t completely severed.

My erections slowly improved during years 2 and 3. Then my erectile function plateaued and I began to notice a new decline about a year ago. (My sex life has however not declined thanks to the lessons learned and described in my book Beyond Erections.)

It was this new decline in erectile function that made me interested in shockwave therapy for ED. It definitely hasn’t made me back into a young man but is has helped substantially.

More background information on shockwave therapy

From Victoria Cullen’s wonderful website ATouchySubject, I also found this remarkable video with Dr Jo Milios. She describes her remarkable successes treating patients with shockwave therapy. One patient came to her after 13 years of ED following prostate surgery.

You can also read Jo Milios’s PhD research here.

Limits to shockwave therapy for ED

According to the doctor at the clinic, the positive effects of the treatment tend to wear off within about a year. Annual boosters sound OK to me. Anecdotal evidence from other men suggests the effects could wear off sooner. I will go for a three-month checkup in September.

Every person’s journey is different and you should get professional medical advice regarding the possible relevance of shockwave therapy in your life. What I can add is as follows:

• The Canadian clinic I went to is very cautious about offering shockwave therapy to men after prostate cancer surgery. They believe their treatment only works on blood flow issues, and not nerve issues.
• Dr Jo Milios in Australia is convinced that shockwave therapy also helps nerve recovery after at least the nerve-sparing forms of prostate surgery.

There is clearly space for further research on this treatment, as outlined in my previous article. I also get the feeling that there are finer details about the way the treatment is delivered that make a difference.  When I get more information on this I will share it here.