Clinical trials have apparently shown an improvement in erectile dysfunction symptoms for men being given experimental low-intensity shockwave therapy. Erectile dysfunction – also known as male impotence – is the term given for when a male either cannot, or struggles to achieve an erection that is satisfactory for sexual intercourse. It can impact around 60% of men over the age of 60 and thousands of men have come to Medical Specialists® Pharmacy over the years and sought our help for treating erectile dysfunction. The shockwave therapy hit headlines in 2016 after former cricketer Sir Ian Botham spoke about receiving the treatment, not because he was actually experiencing any difficulties in the bedroom he claimed, but as a preventative method. In an interview with the Sun on Sunday last year, Botham spoke of his treatment known as ‘Vigore’, which he is also an ambassador for. “It’s prevention rather than cure. I didn’t need the treatment but I didn’t want to be worrying about it in ten years’ time”.

What is shockwave therapy?

Linear shockwave therapy aims to combat erectile dysfunction that occurs as a result of poor blood supply from clogged-up arteries due to ageing, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol. Treatment comprises of jolts administered via a probe applied to the penis. The premise of shockwave therapy has been around since the 1980s, and was initially for the treatment of heart problems, kidney stones, gallstones, fractures and inflamed joints. For treating male impotence, new blood vessels are encouraged to be produced as the low acoustic soundwaves boost the man’s blood flow into the penis. Good blood flow is imperative of course to achieving an erection as when a man is aroused, the arteries become wider in order for the penis to receive blood into it. A health professional will attach a probe to the penis, which will be covered in a particular gel. Usually, the procedure is not painful and as such, no anaesthetic is required, although there could be a slight tingling in that area. Treatment sessions normally take around 15 or 20 minutes.

The new study into shockwave therapy

For the new research into the shockwave therapy, experts from the Center for Sexual and Reproductive Health in The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece conducted a randomised double-blinded study with 46 patients that all suffered with erectile dysfunction. Researchers administered the shockwaves to 30 men, whilst 16 had sham surgery, where no surgical intervention actually occurs. Over the next year, the men’s erectile function was monitored. In comparison to the placebo surgery, shockwaves were determined to be significantly effective for up to a year after, the team wrote in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Only for the wealthy?

There is one slight downside to the innovative shockwave therapy…the cost. To say it isn’t cheap is an understatement. It isn’t available for treating erectile dysfunction on the NHS in Britain and getting it through private means will set you back an eye-watering £3,000. Therefore, it seems the popular and long-standing oral-based impotence treatments such as Viagra, Cialis, Levitra and Spedra won’t be going out of fashion just yet. All are available at Medical Specialists®, and will not hit your wallet too hard. Or, if you struggle to take oral medications or find they are not suitable for you for any given reason, we also now stock Vitaros Cream. Men who have used the cream have reported very few side effects whatsoever, mainly because barely any of the active ingredient finds its way into the general circulation.