A recent study compared the effectiveness of penis pumps and extracorporeal shock wave therapy for ED (erectile dysfunction). Overall, the researchers found that the two treatments for ED provided similar success rates.
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is a noninvasive treatment that uses pressure waves to address various musculoskeletal issues. The therapy can be applied utilizing either high-energy or low-energy shock waves (acoustic waves). For men with erectile dysfunction, low-energy waves are delivered to the penile tissue, as this has been shown to promote angiogenetics, or the creation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones.
Penis pumps, also referred to as vacuum erectile devices (VEDs) are a noninvasive treatment for ED that involves a vacuum cylinder or chamber, a pump, and constriction rings. The cylinder is placed over the penis, and the man uses a pump to create a vacuum, which causes blood to flow into the penis. The constriction rings are used to help maintain the erection for intercourse.
In this clinical trial, 60 men ages 20 to 55 years who had ED were randomly assigned to undergo either treatment twice a week for four weeks. The impact of the treatments were evaluated four weeks post-therapy and was based on efficacy and success rate, changes in IIEF-5 score (International Index of Erectile Function), sex encounter profile SEP) score, erection hardness (EH) score, and nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity (NPTR) assessments.
Four weeks after therapy ended, the authors saw similar increases in IIEF-5, SEP, and EH scores as well as NPTR in both treatment groups.
Overall, treatment success rates were 73.3% for men who underwent extracorporeal shock wave treatment and 67.7 percent for those who used the penis pumps. Efficacy in the two groups was excellent in 10 percent 13.3 percent, respectively, and moderate in 63.3 percent and 53.3 percent, respectively.
The investigators concluded that extracorporeal shock wave therapy and vacuum devices are both comparable treatment options for ED. They also noted that “both these therapies represent good alternatives to PDE5i agents [oral ED medications] in the treatment of ED.”
Read more in our Erectile Dysfunction Health Center.
Reference
Qi T et al. Comparison of the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and a vacuum erectile device on penile erectile dysfunction: a randomized clinical trial. Medicine (Baltimore) 2017 Nov; 96(44): e8414
