Does Shockwave Therapy Work for ED?
Straight answers to the questions men ask most often about shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction, reviewed by Dr. David Croland of Charlotte Men's Clinic in Charlotte, NC.
Does shockwave therapy actually work for ED?
Often, yes. In men whose ED comes from poor blood flow, low-intensity shockwave therapy has been studied in randomized trials and meta-analyses, and it improves erectile function scores more than a sham treatment does. That's the honest version of the answer. It isn't a guarantee, and it isn't right for everyone. Men with severe ED, prior nerve damage, or a hormonal cause usually need a different plan or an added treatment. So the first visit here is an evaluation with Dr. Croland, not a treatment.
How does shockwave therapy work for ED?
A handheld applicator passes low-intensity acoustic waves into the penile tissue. The pulses don't feel like much, but they place gentle mechanical stress on the tissue, and the body's repair system responds to that. Vessels that had been partly constricted open up. Small new vessels form over the following weeks, and blood flow to the area improves. Most ED is a circulation problem, so this is aimed at the cause rather than at the symptom for a few hours at a time.
Who is a good candidate for shockwave therapy?
Men with mild to moderate ED from reduced blood flow tend to respond best. That includes men who only get partial results from Viagra or Cialis, and men who would rather not lean on a pill at all. Diabetes-related and age-related vascular ED is common here. When the ED is mainly hormonal, testosterone therapy is usually the better place to start, and some men do best with more than one treatment. We sort that out at the consultation.
How many shockwave treatments will I need?
The number of sessions depends on the severity of your ED. For mild ED a course of 6 sessions is typically adequate. For more severe ED Dr. Croland usually recommends 9 or 12 shockwave sessions, sometimes with added combinations of therapy such as the P-Shot and hormone replacement therapy. Each session delivers 3,000 pulses on an FDA-cleared device, and Dr. Croland performs every one himself. Some men notice a change in the first few weeks. For others it builds gradually over two to three months while the new vessels form.
Does shockwave therapy hurt?
Most men say it feels like light tapping or a mild tingle, not pain. There are no needles and no numbing medication. There's no downtime either, so you can drive yourself home and go back to normal activity the same day, including sex. A session takes about 15 to 20 minutes in the office.
Is shockwave therapy FDA approved?
The device we use is FDA-cleared. Low-intensity shockwave therapy has been used in urology and men's health practices for years, and the published evidence behind it for ED has grown steadily over the past decade. Dr. Croland has been performing it since 2018.
How long do the results last?
Published studies follow men for a year and longer, and many are still improved at that point after a full course. That durability is the point of the treatment: it improves the tissue's own blood supply instead of creating an effect that wears off overnight. Once satisfactory improvement is attained, whether after the initial series or subsequent ones, we typically recommend a maintenance session about once a quarter to sustain the result. Dr. Croland sets that timing with you based on how you respond.
How is shockwave therapy different from Viagra or Cialis?
A pill gives you a window. It helps you use the blood flow you already have for a few hours, then it's gone. Shockwave is aimed at the blood flow itself, so erections can happen without planning around a tablet. Plenty of men come to us after years on Cialis, either because they'd rather stop or because it doesn't work the way it used to.
How much does shockwave therapy cost in Charlotte?
Shockwave therapy for ED at Charlotte Men's Clinic starts at $2,599 for six sessions, which is the minimum course we provide for ED. Since the number of sessions depends on how severe your ED is, your total depends on the plan Dr. Croland recommends. Every session is performed personally by Dr. Croland. At the consultation you find out whether you're a good candidate and what your plan would cost before committing to anything.
Contact Charlotte Men's Clinic: (704) 850-6030