A brief overview of the ED vacuum pump, also known as a penis pump; how it’s used, its limits, and a viable new alternative that offers several key advantages.
ED vacuum pumps have been used for years, and are often recommended as an alternative to drug therapy.
How It’s Used
An erectile dysfunction pump uses air suction to draw blood into the penis and to help achieve and maintain an erection. It's important to point out that a penis pump is not a cure for erectile dysfunction (ED), but it can help increase your ability to have sexual intercourse.
A vacuum constriction device is used by placing the pump, which can be pumped by hand or run on batteries, over the penis. Air is pumped out of the cylinder so that a vacuum is created. Once the penis is erect, with the help of lubricant, a retaining band can be slid down onto the lower end of the penis to maintain the erection.
Limits of The Erectile Dysfunction Pump
While the penis pump has been in use for years, and has offered benefits for many men, many others have been frustrated by its limitations and drawbacks. As mentioned, above a penis pump is not a cure for erectile dysfunction (ED), and requires an awkward prelude to sexual activity. Erectile dysfunction pumps also produce edema, which is a form of swelling, but medically defined as pathological, and ultimately not a healthy way to induce swelling in the penis. While a penis pump is considered a safe and natural erectile dysfunction treatment option, it is not recommended for men with bleeding disorders, such as sickle cell anemia and other conditions.
Acoustic wave therapy for ED: A promising New non-invasive ED treatment
Acoustic wave technology has been used successfully for many years for a range of other medical conditions, and is now being applied for ED treatments. Clinically known as low-intensity shockwave therapy, or LiSWT, it has been used by orthopedists for years to help heal broken bones, injured ligaments, and injured tendons. The targeted high-energy sound waves are also used to accelerate tissue repair and cell growth.
Now, acoustic wave therapy is being explored for several other urological applications, including treatment for erectile dysfunction. Shock wave therapy provides a low-intensity, minimally invasive, painless, and drug-free treatment, and represents a real alternative to the penis pump and PDE-5 inhibitor potency drugs. While Shock wave therapy increases nitric oxide to produce a similar effect as PDE-5 drugs, Shock wave therapy treats the cause instead of the symptom and provides more than a short term effect. Shock wave therapy continues to gain popularity, and may eventually prove to be the most effective ED treatment for many.
Some clinics report a 93% success rate of decreasing symptoms associated with erectile dysfunction (ED), and Peyronies’ disease. The effects of the acoustic wave therapy for ED can sometimes last up to two years.
Learn more about the ED vacuum pump option and its limits, and discuss other treatment options with experienced specialists.