Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy: How effective is it in patients with erectile dysfunction? A systematic review

One in 5 men experiences erectile dysfunction, and with the aging population and comorbid diseases becoming increasingly common, this number is likely to continue to rise. Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy may cause structural changes that repair penile tissue. This study aimed to examine the available information regarding the effectiveness of low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist. Fourteen studies involving 861 patients were included in this review. Meta-analysis of data revealed that extracorporeal shockwave therapy significantly increased the International Index of Erectile Function across all treatment groups (mean difference, 3.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.59–6.61; p = 0.02). Improvement in International Index of Erectile Function–Erectile Function domain scores after low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy was significantly greater than after sham therapy.