[:en]Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common problem for many men, especially in later life. It’s estimated that half of all men between the ages of 40 and 70 will experience it to some degree. One of the most common causes of ED in men around that age is hormonal imbalance.
Hormones are chemicals that regulate things like growth, mood, and appetite. In men, the testosterone hormone is responsible for increasing sexual desire and erections. Low testosterone levels can result in erectile dysfunction.
Other physical and psychological causes of ED include:
- Chronic smoking, which narrows the blood vessels supplying the penis
- Coronary artery disease, hypertension and diabetes
- Anxiety, depression, work stress and or psychological issues
- Kidney failure
- Pelvic trauma and spinal cord injury
- Stroke, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease
- Surgery or radiation treatment for prostate cancer.
- Drugs e.g. anti-depressants
- Obesity and sedentary lifestyle
As well as embarrassment and anguish, erectile problems can cause immense distress in relationships and marriages. So, it is important for couples to address any ED problems.
The most common ED treatments such as Viagra and Cialis work by increasing blood flow to the penis to allow for a strong and longer-lasting erection during sex. However, they can have some side effects that can include nasal congestion, back pain, dizziness, memory problems, nausea and sudden temporary hearing loss. Some patients with erectile dysfunction do not respond to oral or topical medications such as Viagra. These problems prompted scientists to come up with a longer-term solution that is also an effective and painless means of alleviating the physical problem.
A New Therapy to Treat Erectile Dysfunction
The solution that scientists invented is Linear Shockwave Therapy (LSWT), which works by encouraging the growth of new blood vessels and therefore the rate of blood flow to the penis. The procedure utilizes a series of pulsed acoustic energy in the ultrasonic range. The focused energy, when applied to tissue, provides improvement of penile hemodynamics by increased ability to push blood to the penis and keep it there.
What does the treatment involve?
The procedure does not require an anaesthetic or sedation prior to treatment. Four 20-minute sessions are recommended once a week, in order to achieve noticeable results. Normal activities can be resumed straight afterwards. Noticeable results are achieved within six weeks. LSWT is safe because the sound waves are of a very low energy output.
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