What can be done in the treatment of erectile dysfunction besides medication?

In the treatment of erectile dysfunction, the effects of oral and urethral medications are not permanent; their effects are typically short-lived, lasting only for one night. In addition to these medications, shockwave therapy (SWT), platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections into the penis, and stem cell therapies can be used. The effects of these treatments are more long-lasting.

SWT nedir?

Shockwave Therapy (SWT) can treat erectile dysfunction caused by insufficient penile blood circulation in a non-surgical, side-effect-free, and painless manner. It works by increasing the expansion capacity of the penile blood vessels, allowing for the permanent treatment of erectile dysfunction. Although long-term results are not yet fully available due to it being a relatively new method, studies have shown that the effects can last for over 4 years. With this treatment, you can eliminate the need for medications that only provide temporary effects and achieve a more liberated sexual life. In addition to its lasting effectiveness, the greatest advantage of this method is that it has no side effects.

What changes does SWT cause in the penis?

Shockwave therapy causes slight damage to the smooth muscle cells responsible for the expansion of the blood vessels in the treated area, triggering the body's repair process in that region. At the end of the repair process, the smooth muscles in the vessel wall that were not functioning properly are renewed. In this way, any issues with vessel expansion are corrected by the body's natural healing process, stimulated by the shockwave.

What is PRP?

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is a concentrated form of platelets, derived from the patient's own blood using special methods to isolate platelets. Platelets play a crucial role in wound healing, stopping bleeding, and promoting tissue repair. They are rich in substances that support the healing of tissues, formation of new tissues, creation of new blood vessels, and the proper functioning of existing vessels. When this regenerative fluid is reintroduced into the penis, it stimulates the body's repair process to correct any damage in the penile blood vessels.

What is stem cell therapy?

Stem cells are cells that have the ability to transform into one or more mature cell types. They can be considered as a kind of "wildcard" cell. While stem cells in the fetus in the womb can differentiate into any type of cell, after birth, these versatile stem cells are lost. Post-birth, stem cells in the body can only differentiate into the cells of the organ they are located in or into a few other types of tissue cells. These cells can be obtained from bone marrow, liver, skin, or adipose tissue.

Erectile dysfunction is often caused by issues in the endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells in the vessel walls, and nerves leading to the penis, making it an ideal target for stem cell therapy.

Stem cells taken from the patient are injected into the penis, where it is hoped they will repair the damage in the vessels, muscles, and nerves.