CARNAL NATION

Experiments now suggest directing shockwaves at penises can help treat erectile dysfunction. Researcher Yoram Vardi, head of the neuro-urology department at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel, told LiveScience that "with shockwaves, we can do something biological for the problem — after treatments, these patients can function without the need for medication."

In animal studies, low-intensity shockwaves have been proven to trigger growth of new blood vessels from existing ones. Vardi and his colleagues therefore speculated that shockwave therapy could help men whose erectile dysfunction stems from reduced blood flow to their penises.

Of the 20 volunteers with an average age of 56 years old who had mild or moderate erectile dysfunction for roughly three years, significant improvement was seen in 15. At each session, a device that resembles a computer mouse applied shockwaves at five different sites on their penises.

There were no side effects, and it did not hurt. This is however not a cure for everyone. The researchers chose men whose problems were apparently due to blood flow, as opposed to nerve, muscle or other issues. The researchers are now expanding their research with placebo groups and more patients.