The results of LIPUS treatment are very encouraging with some 58% to 73% of patients say they were able to perform intercourse again compared to just 28.9% to 31.5% in the control group.

Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction

At present, several treatments have been deployed for erectile dysfunction, a condition that affects men in their millions across the globe. Some of these include pharmaceutical interventions via the use of agents like phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5-Is). There is also the use of invasive methods like intracavernosal injection therapy in which vaso-active substances are introduced into the penile tissue. Other techniques include the use of penile prosthesis implants and vacuum erection devices.

But even at that, a good number of patients do not respond to the treatments administered to them and there is a shockingly high level of those who do not even complete the treatment session. At the moment, it has been demonstrated the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction is connected to numerous factors like stress, existing medical conditions, history of surgical procedures amongst others.
Scientists have employed the use of several techniques that involved new systems that work at the molecular level. One of these is a melanocortin receptor agonist which acts centrally. It has shown good results as it triggers erection without sexual stimulation in those who do not respond to PDE5-Is.

Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound (LIPUS)

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is a relatively new form of technology that is applied in a variety of cases as a treatment option. As the name implies, it makes use of low intensity and pulsed waves with mechanical energy to trigger regeneration and defense against inflammation in the body. Apart from its application in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, LIPUS is also used in treating conditions that have to do with bodily tissues like cartilage, bone, and tendon. Although the exact way by which LIPUS works is not fully understood, newer studies keep shedding more light on this technology.

In most instances, LIPUS makes use of 1.5MHz frequency pulses. There is a pulse width of 200 mu-seconds and it is repeated in cycles that have a frequency of 1,000. The introduction of this technology can be traced back to the 1950s. At that time, it was used as a treatment option in cases of connective tissue problems like tendinitis.

By 2009, scientists were employing LIPUS in the treatment of soft tissue injuries. LIPUS has been put forward as one of the methods used in speeding up healing in bone fractures. That said, back to the essence of this piece which is the efficacy and safety of LIPUS in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Based on the clinical trials that have been done so far, there have been good results in men suffering from diabetic or post-prostatectomy erectile dysfunction who have opted for the LIPUS. The low-intensity shock wave therapy has also been shown to show good results in men suffering from vasculogenic erectile dysfunction. Further studies have shown that there is remarkable progress so far even though there is still an overwhelming need for more clinical trials to be done so more definitive conclusions can be drawn. After all the trials and studies that have been conducted so far, the expectation is that over the long term, the levels of efficacy and safety of LIPUS as a treatment option is going to be optimized.

Results of LIPUS Treatment

Results of LIPUS treatment are very encouraging compared to sham treatment. The percentage of patients who successfully achieved the vaginal intercourse ranges from 58.97% to 73.08% with 4 and 12 weeks of treatment which is higher compared to 28.95% to 31.58% respectively in the control group. This means the positive responsive rates in the LIPUS treatment group were about two to three times that in the control group. This shows the low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) therapeutic device efficacy, as well as safety, is satisfactory.

References