Can shockwave therapy give you better erections? Experts weigh in

This story originally appeared on Out.Erectile dysfunction affects between 30 and 50 million cisgender men in the United States alone, but most of the treatments on the market are medications that cause side effects or procedures that require injections below the belt. For those looking for a less invasive solution to a problem that causes so many men to feel shame, there are far fewer options.This all too common problem has been widely studied, which means that there are medications on the market like Viagra and Cialis, and injectables like the P-Shot and penile Botox, but they don’t work for everyone, and some people are looking for a treatment option without the side effects or recovery time. That’s where scientists have come to the rescue. Unlike all of those other treatments, shockwave therapy is a noninvasive, pain-free procedure that has no real complications you need to worry about.To get to the bottom of this futuristic-sounding therapy that uses acoustic waves to improve blood flow, we talked to experts in the field who treat their own patients with the procedure or who have gotten it themselves. Here is everything you need to know about shockwave therapy and whether or not it might be the solution you’ve been looking for. What is shockwave therapy?Low intensity shockwave therapy (LiSWT), the clinical name for shockwave therapy, was once used to heal bones and treat chronic wounds, but now is being used to give people better erections.With shockwave therapy, clinicians use a wand-like device to send targeted high-energy sound waves to different parts of the penis. The treatment emits gentle pulses, only takes approximately 15 minutes, and no anesthesia is needed. The aim is to help repair and strengthen blood vessels and improve blood flow — two things you need to get an erection, and the same goal as traditional ED medications like Viagra. Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner Chris Bustamante tells Out that he uses shockwave therapy at his clinic because