Sexual impotence or erectile dysfunction (ED) is a sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection and/or dissatisfaction with the size, rigidity or duration of erections.
Causes of erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction has multiple causes, among which vascular pathology stands out. This pathology is the cause of the obstruction of the arteries that carry blood to the corpora cavernosa of the penis. These are the ones that provide, to a great extent, the erection of the penis.
Arterial hypertension (AHT), excess cholesterol or diabetes are some of the causes that produce vascular dysfunction and therefore influence the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction.
Treatments for erectile dysfunction
From the approval of sildenafil in 1998 to the present day, multiple molecules have appeared for the treatment of ED. These include topical or injectable treatments, according to urology specialists.
Currently, the use of low-intensity shock waves is a state-of-the-art technological advance in the treatment of vascular erectile dysfunction.
Shock waves: treatment for erectile dysfunction
Shock waves are ultrasounds applied at low or high frequency that cause an effect on the tissue where they are applied. They have been used for more than three decades for the fragmentation of urethral and kidney stones. Also for the treatment of pain in multiple traumatological processes or, in a very new way, for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, with an efficacy of 70-80%.
Low-intensity shock waves entail:
- Improvement and stimulation of blood circulation
- Increased formation of new vessels
- Induce muscle relaxation
- Elimination of sore spots
These processes stimulate and assist in the creation of a satisfactory erection by patients.
Shock waves do not cause any side effects on the penis. Neither do they cause pain and therefore it is a completely harmless treatment from which only advantages are obtained.