The beginning of a new era: treatment of erectile dysfunction by use of physical energies as an alternative to pharmaceuticals

Gruenwald, Ilan; Spector, Avner; Shultz, Tamar; Lischinsky, Daniel; Kimmel, Eitan

doi:10.1038/s41443-019-0142-y

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 95 publications

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“…Our interest in applying RF as external physical energy to the penis for the treatment of ED evolved from the documented bene cial results of LI-ESWT applied to the penis for ED treatment [4] [10]. RF, which is routinely used in medicine, is a type of electric current between two electrodes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such treatment is not applied prior to sexual activity, and therefore eliminates the need to time and schedule ahead the use of medications before sexual activity and intercourse, consequently restoring spontaneity to sex life. Low-Intensity Shockwave Therapy (LI-ESWT) which results in micro-anatomical and physiological changes at the level of the cavernosal tissue is one form of such treatment modality [4]. Radiofrequency (RF) energy has been shown to renew collagen and to restore their spatial structural arrangement in various tissue bers due to its heating effect [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Radiofrequency energy in the treatment of erectile dysfunction—a novel cohort pilot study on safety, applicability, and short-term efficacy

Gruenwald,

Appel,

Shechter

et al. 2023

Int J Impot Res

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Collagen is an essential component of the structures involved in the erectile mechanism and as such, impaired collagen may hinder it. Because Radiofrequency (RF) energy has been shown to renew and restore spatial structural arrangement of collagen bers, treatment of ED with RF could lead to anatomical and physiological changes at the penile tissue level and could lead to improvement in the erectile mechanism. We conducted this study to assess the effect of RF treatment on erection quality. We evaluated the safety, applicability, and e cacy of a self-applied, handheld, low-intensity radiofrequency device (Vertica®) in men with moderate and mild-to-moderate organic ED. The treatment protocol consisted of 12 treatments (twice a week during the 1st month, and once a week during the 2nd month), each participant treated himself individually. Treatment outcomes were evaluated using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15), Erection Hardness Scale (EHS), Erectile Dysfunction Index of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS), Bene t, Satisfaction & Willingness to continue (BSW), Quality of Erection Questionnaire (QEQ), Sexual Quality of Life (SQOL) questionnaires and speci c questions addressing side-effects and ease of use. Twenty-eight out of 32 men (mean age 59.5.7 ± 9.8, range: 41-78y) completed a one-month follow-up after treatment. Mean IIEF-15 (43.7. ±7.8 vs 60.9 ± 10.8, p < 0.01), IIEF-Erection Function domain (IIEF-EF) (16.8 ± 3.1 vs. 24.4 ± 4.4, p < 0.001), and EHS scores (2.2 ± 0.8 vs. 3.2 ± 0.5, p = 0.01) were all signi cantly improved. Fifty percent of patients achieved normal EF parameters (IIEF-EF score ≥ 25). High mean scores were achieved in the EDITS (76.8 ± 20.3), BSW (4.83 ± 1.1), QEQ (73.4 ± 23.8), and SQOL (67 ± 29.4) questionnaires. No side effects were reported and participants rated the device as very comfortable, simple, and easy to operate.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%