The Treatment Satisfaction in Patients and Their Partners Treated with Low-Intensity Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy and Sildenafil
TL;DR
This study suggests LI-ESWT may be preferred by patients who value spontaneity and lasting improvement over on-demand medication. The higher satisfaction rates, especially regarding duration of effects, support shockwave therapy as an alternative for men who don't want to rely on pills before every sexual encounter.
Key Numbers
88% of shockwave patients satisfied vs 63% of sildenafil users
Partners 1.6x more likely to be satisfied with shockwave treatment
Effects persisted 4+ weeks after treatment ended
Only 2.4% experienced any side effects (mild penile discomfort)
Key Findings
Similar erectile function improvement between LI-ESWT and sildenafil
Both treatments improved erectile function by similar amounts after 4 weeks
IIEF-EF: 16.3±5.5 vs 18.3±6.5 (p>0.05)
Higher overall patient satisfaction with LI-ESWT
Nearly 9 in 10 shockwave patients were satisfied, compared to 6 in 10 pill users
88.1% vs 63.3% satisfied (p<0.05)
Higher partner satisfaction with LI-ESWT
Partners were significantly more satisfied when their partner used shockwave vs pills
73.8% vs 46.7% satisfied (p<0.05)
Better satisfaction with duration of effects in LI-ESWT group
Patients preferred how long the shockwave effects lasted compared to taking a pill each time
88.1% vs 63.3% satisfied with duration (p<0.05)
LI-ESWT effects persist without ongoing treatment
Unlike pills which work only when taken, shockwave benefits continued after treatment ended
Improvement sustained 1 month post-treatment without additional intervention
Our Take
This is one of the few direct head-to-head comparisons between shockwave therapy and Viagra (sildenafil). While both treatments improved erectile function similarly, the real story is in patient satisfaction: shockwave patients were significantly happier with their treatment. The key differentiator? Shockwave effects lasted beyond the treatment period, while pills only work when you take them. For younger men especially, who may not want decades of pill-taking ahead of them, this study supports considering shockwave as a first-line option.
Treatment Protocol
- Device
- Omnispec ED1000 (Medispec Ltd., Israel)
- Frequency
- 2 sessions per week
- Energy Density
- 0.09 mJ/mm²
- Protocol
- 3 weeks on, 3 weeks off, 3 weeks on
Comparison: LI-ESWT vs sildenafil
LI-ESWT
42 participants
sildenafil
30 participants • 100mg
Study Limitations
- • Small sample size (72 patients)
- • Non-randomized design (patients chose their treatment)
- • Single-center study
- • Short follow-up (4 weeks post-treatment)
- • No objective penile hemodynamic measurements
- • No subgroup analysis by ED etiology
- • Young patient population may not generalize to older men
