The Efficacy of Low Intensity Shock Wave Therapy (LI-SWT) in Treating Erectile Dysfunction: A Single Center Study

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of low intensity shock wave therapy (LI-SWT) in the treatment of erectile dysfunction Material and Methods: After ethics committee approval, male patients who applied to our clinic between March 2021 and July 2024 with the complaint of erectile dysfunction were retrospectively screened. Clinical data of 63 patients who met the inclusion criteria and underwent LI-SWT treatment were reviewed. Age, body mass index, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) and Erectile Hardness Score (EHS) score before LI-SWT treatment, previous erectile dysfunction treatment, smoking and alcohol use, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) status and comorbidities were recorded. IIEF-5 and EHS scores at 3 and 6 months after LI-SWT were recorded and compared statistically. Subgroup analyses were also carried out according to comorbidities. Results: Statistically significant improvements were observed in both IIEF-5 and EHS scores following Li-ESWT. The median IIEF-5 score increased from 13.0 at baseline to 15.0 at 3 months and 20.0 at 6 months post-treatment (p < 0.001). Similarly, the median EHS improved from 2.0 pre-treatment to 3.0 at 6 months (p < 0.001). Also significant improvements in IIEF-5 and EHS scores were observed across all subgroups at 6 months post-treatment Conclusion: LI-SWT can be effective first line treatment option especially in mild and moderate erectile dysfunction. It can be used alternative to phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor treatment. In addition, it can be considered as single or combined with PDE-5 inhibitor treatment in severe erectile dysfunction patients with comorbid diseases.