Do you have difficulty getting or maintaining an erection? If so, you are among the majority of men over 50 who have this frustrating issue. The good news is that there are new therapeutic approaches that can offer real help! Even if you’re not struggling with erectile problems, a holistic and comprehensive approach can enhance your quality of life and improve sexual performance. These safe and noninvasive interventions are backed by science and proven to work quickly and effectively.
What Really Works for Erectile Dysfunction?
There are a wide variety of therapies available for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). However, many slick marketers prey on men’s insecurities and overpromise and underdeliver. Fortunately for you, there are treatments that have been developed and tested by qualified research physicians that have actually been proven to improve erectile function.
Increasingly, the focus of treatment has been on combination therapies that dramatically improve and enhance the benefits for men suffering from ED:
These treatments include:
- PDE-5 Inhibitors like Sildenafil (Viagra) and Tadalafil (Cialis)
- Nitric oxide boosters (like AFFIRM from AFFIRM Science)
- Shockwave therapy from a GAINSWave provider
We refer to these three synergistic treatments as the “Triple Therapy” protocol, and they have become the go-to treatments for doctors and patients looking for long-lasting improvement in erectile function.
What Is a PDE-5 Inhibitor?
While researching treatments for ED, you are likely to come across PDE-5 inhibitors. The term is short for Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors, though you are likely more familiar with their commercial prescription names like Viagra and Cialis.
A PDE-5 inhibitor is a drug that treats ED by blocking (or inhibiting) the PDE-5 enzyme. Research has shown that by blocking this enzyme the smooth muscle in the walls of arteries relaxes, allowing for an increase in blood flow within the penis.
Among PDE5 inhibitors, the best-known include:
- Sildenafil (Viagra®).
- Tadalafil (Cialis).
- Vardenafil (Levitra).
Unfortunately, once the effect of these pills wears off, they don’t have any lasting benefits, unlike shockwave therapy. However, PDE-5 inhibitors are an important part of the treatment of ED; providing improvement to the signal your body creates to open up blood flow to the penis.
What Is a Nitric Oxide Booster?
Nitric oxide is a molecule that forms naturally in your body. It’s responsible for causing your blood vessels to dilate that improves circulation and lowers your blood pressure. We call this process Vasodilation.
A Nitric Oxide booster, like AFFIRM, increases vasodilation. The natural ingredients combine with oxygen and create Nitric Oxide, which is then released by nerves when they are stimulated. Nitric Oxide is the molecular signal that causes blood vessels to dilate. More vasodilation leads to better blood flow, and that’s what you need to get a more rigid erection.
Clinical Trials Back the Use of Nitric Oxides
Does it work?
According to some impressive clinical research, it does. One 2003 study found that 80% of the men who boosted their Nitric Oxide achieved erections by the second month. “After the third month of treatment, 92.5% of the men experienced a normal erection,” the study found.
A 2012 study concluded that increasing nitric oxide was “effective and safe in treating patients with mild to moderate dysfunction.” The combination of a Nitric Oxide booster like AFFIRM and a PDE-5 inhibitor works better than either one individually. Together Nitric Oxide and PDE-5 inhibitors optimize the signal to open up blood vessels in the penis.
What is GAINSWave® Therapy?
Long-lasting improvement in circulation is the holy grail of ED treatments. Addressing the problem of blood flow to the penis over a long term is the only way to “fix” your ED. GAINSWave, also known as low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy, uses low power, high-frequency sound waves to stimulate the growth of new blood vessels and possibly break up plaque deposits which have built up within the penis over time. This treatment is totally noninvasive and performed in-office by a certified medical professional in less time than your typical lunch break.
With no pain, recovery or downtime to account for, GAINSWave offers men a safe, effective therapy whose results improve over time and can last years. Unlike PDE-5 inhibitors, GAINSWave keeps working even after the treatment is over.
How Does It Work?
It uses high-frequency, low-intensity sound waves to:
- Stimulate the growth of new blood vessels
- Break up plaque and hard tissue within arteries
- Increase vasodilation through the release of Nitric Oxide
- Trigger the growth of new nerve bundles
Major Clinical Studies Support the Use of Shockwave Therapy
A study in Therapeutic Advances in Urology found that high-frequency, low-intensity extracorporeal shock therapy” helped generate a significant clinical improvement of erectile function and a significant improvement in penile hemodynamics with no adverse effect.”
And in 2019, an important study focused on the available research on shockwave therapy for ED and concluded that “men treated with Li-ESWT showed significant improvement in erectile function.” Other studies have also found that shockwave therapy like GAINSWave can work even in men who don’t traditionally respond positively to PDE5 inhibitors.
How Many Treatments Do You Need?
Although all men are different and require individualized treatment plans, a 2019 study found that GAINSWave requires six and twelve treatments administered once or twice a week.
Results typically can take four to six weeks to fully manifest, but many patients begin responding to GAINSWave within days of their first treatment.
Triple Therapy is a combination of a Nitric Oxide booster and a PDE-5 inhibitor to increase the nerve signal and GAINSWave to improve the arterial pipes. The end result is better blood flow to the penis and a firmer erection that leads to more satisfying physical intimacy
Is It Common?
ED is a widespread condition, especially for men over 50. Conditions like an age-related decline in low testosterone can absolutely contribute to this condition.
Factors like stress can also affect a man’s ability to perform, which is why it’s important for men to employ a more comprehensive and holistic approach to their sexual health.
Who’s at Risk for ED?
We used to think erectile dysfunction only occurred to older men, but recent evidence suggests that, increasingly, ED has been and continues to be a problem among young, healthy men.
A 2013 study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine reported that 26% of men under the age of 40 experienced some form of erectile dysfunction, with 40% reporting severe ED. This highlights that just about anyone is at risk of developing ED within their lifetimes.
Take Control of Your Sexual Health
Triple Therapy isn’t just an incredible treatment for ED, it’s also the key to unlocking your true sexual performance. Although much of what we discussed in this article has to do with overcoming ED, men who are otherwise healthy can also greatly benefit from Triple Therapy.
The same processes that can help a man regain control of his sexual health can also help otherwise healthy men supercharge and optimize their sexual performance.
It no longer remains the norm for a man to concede to ED as he gets older. With a thoughtful, personalized treatment plan like the Triple Therapy, any man can improve his sexual experience with results that last for years, not hours.
Written by: Board-certified Urologist, Dr. Judson Brandeis of BrandeisMD.com