Shock Wave Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction: Key Findings and Practical Solutions
Background
Recent studies show that low-intensity shock wave therapy (LI-ESWT) is effective for treating erectile dysfunction, but challenges exist in reviewing these studies systematically.
Aim
This study aims to confirm the effectiveness of LI-ESWT and identify the best method for assessing erectile dysfunction in clinical settings.
Methods
Twenty-one participants with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction were randomly assigned to receive either LI-ESWT or a placebo. Evaluations were conducted using:
- The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5)
- A new visual scale called the Visual Erection Hardness Score (V-EHS)
- Standardized penile Doppler ultrasound
Outcomes
LI-ESWT effectively treated moderate erectile dysfunction, with V-EHS proving to be more accurate than Doppler ultrasound for diagnosis and follow-up.
Results
After one month, the LI-ESWT group showed a significant improvement of +3.21 points on the IIEF-5, compared to +0.57 points in the placebo group. At six months, the treated group had an average increase of 4.71 points, while the placebo group decreased by 1.0 point. The V-EHS showed a strong correlation with IIEF-5 results, especially at six months, while Doppler ultrasound showed only moderate correlation.
Strengths and Limitations
This study’s strengths include its randomized, blinded, and placebo-controlled design, along with the comparison of two assessment methods. Limitations include a small sample size and short follow-up duration.
Conclusions
LI-ESWT is effective for treating moderate vasculogenic erectile dysfunction, with the best results observed at six months. The V-EHS provides a simple and reliable way to assess erectile function.
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