Shockwave Therapy for ED I am 66 and have been dealing with mild, age-related ED for about six years. Focused Shockwave vs. Radial Shockwave I researched many of the clinical trials published in PubMed. Most of the research was performed using a focused shockwave, as opposed to a radial shockwave. The focused shockwave had efficacy rates ranging from 37% to 87%, depending on various factors such as age, progression of ED, or physical causes. For age-related ED, the efficacy rate was notably high. The radial shockwave, by contrast, had relatively low efficacy. The focused shockwave is designed to penetrate deeper into the tissue, has a much higher power, and consequently must be administered by a physician. The radial shockwave, by definition, radiates outward, covering a wider area. It is beneficial for muscle/tendon injuries and can be administered by a technician. One such radial shockwave machine is called Gainswave, and many clinics using it are emerging. It is far less expensive than the focused shockwave machine, which I believe runs nearly $100K. Therefore, the key is to find a physician who uses the focused shockwave machine. If we were in Europe, there would be far more options. I was searching in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, and Regenerative Men's Health was the only clinic that offered the focused shockwave therapy. Based on the clinical trials, I was happy to drive the 2.5-hour round trip. The Process Well, as you might imagine, the process involves delivering 1,000 shockwaves in each of three areas of the penis and perianal area, reaching the prostate and surrounding tissue. The treatment starts at the base of the head, working down to the mid-shaft, then from deep in the base up to the midpoint and onto the perianal area. The feeling of the shockwave is a pulse; it is sound-generated, but it feels like a small electrical shock, similar to a TENS unit. The physical sensation is very tolerable. The procedure takes about 15 minutes, and there are six sessions, which are designed to break up hardened, calcified areas and create new blood vessels. General Feelings You might guess that I was a bit embarrassed to begin the process, but the staff is very professional and welcoming. Dr. Isazade, who runs the clinic, is very nice and made me feel comfortable from the get-go. From dropping pants to getting into position on the table, it felt like this is just what they do here—it's no big deal. Very quickly, I was over the anxiety and having a polite conversation. Besides, anything I was feeling was far less traumatic than the embarrassment of ED, so there is that. The Outcome I went through the six sessions. Dr. I also put me on 20 mg of Cialis every other day for 60 days to keep the blood flowing into that region. The Cialis dose was a little high, and I had some mild headaches, so he suggested cutting the 20 mg pills in half, which stopped the headaches and still had the desired effect. So the question is: Did it help? The short answer is yes. I am still taking the Cialis, so it is difficult to parse exactly how well the shockwave therapy performed alone. However, there have been a few instances where 3-4 days have gone by between Cialis doses, and my penis is definitely able to get hard and "lock in," which is in contrast to being about 75%–80% hard and not really achieving a good lock. I am pleased with the results, and I think I may do another round in six months or so. One further comment is that I was on Viagra but didn't take it very often because of the headaches and the flushing face, hot ears, and the floaty, detached feeling I got from it. The Cialis seems to have far fewer side effects and works longer—about 30–50 hours—than Viagra, so that was another positive outcome. All in all, I highly recommend this clinic and the people who work there.
L Davis · October 20th, 2025