Shock Therapy May Improve Erectile Dysfunction

Shocking the penis with sound waves may help those who have severe erectile dysfunction that has not respond well to drug treatments, a new study finds.

Among men in the study, "extracorporeal shock wave therapy" significantly improved sexual function, the researchers said. The patients continued to see improvements two months after the treatment had stopped, and close to 30 percent of them achieved normal sexual function and no longer required medications.

Extracorporeal shock waves have been used to break up kidney stones, but the sound waves used in the study to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) were much less intense, the researchers said. No men reported pain or adverse events during treatment.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Reference Summary

Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, are some of the most common infectious diseases in the United States.

There are more than 20 STDs, the most deadly being the HIV virus. Other sexually transmitted diseases include syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.

This reference summary reviews some common STDs and how they can be diagnosed, treated, and prevented.

Causes of STDs

An infectious disease is a disease that can be passed from one person to another. Sexually transmitted diseases are a category of diseases that are spread via sexual activities, such as vaginal intercourse, oral sex, or anal sex.