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Radiofrequency energy in the treatment of erectile dysfunction—a novel cohort pilot study on safety, applicability, and short-term efficacy

International Journal of Impotence Research (2023)Cite this article

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Abstract

The erectile mechanism depends, in part on the intactness of the collagen components in the penis. As such, impaired collagen may have a deleterious effect on erectile function. Radiofrequency energy has been shown to renew and restore spatial structural arrangement of collagen fibers; therefore, treatment of erectile dysfunction with radiofrequency could lead to anatomical and physiological changes at the penile tissue level and could lead to improvement in the erectile mechanism. We conducted this study to assess the effect of radiofrequency treatment on erection quality. We evaluated the safety, applicability, and efficacy of a self-applied, handheld, low-intensity radiofrequency device (Vertica®) in men with moderate and mild-to-moderate organic erectile dysfunction. The treatment protocol consisted of 12 treatments (twice a week during the 1st month, and once a week during the 2nd month), and each participant treated himself individually. Treatment outcomes were evaluated using the International Index of Erectile Function, Erection Hardness Scale, Erectile Dysfunction Index of Treatment Satisfaction, Benefit, Satisfaction & Willingness to continue, Quality of Erection Questionnaire, Sexual Quality of Life questionnaires and specific questions addressing side effects and ease of use. Twenty-eight out of 32 men (mean age 59.5 ± 9.8, range: 41–78 years) completed a one-month follow-up after treatment. Mean International Index of Erectile Function (43.7. ± 7.8 vs. 60.9 ± 10.8, p < 0.01), International Index of Erectile Function -Erection Function domain (16.8 ± 3.1 vs. 24.4 ± 4.4, p < 0.001), and Erection Hardness Scores (2.2 ± 0.8 vs. 3.2 ± 0.5, p = 0.01) were all significantly improved. Fifty percent of patients achieved normal erectile function parameters according to the International Index of Erectile Function -Erection Function domain score >25. High mean scores were achieved in the Erectile Dysfunction Index of Treatment Satisfaction (76.8 ± 20.3), Benefit, Satisfaction & Willingness to continue (4.83 ± 1.1), Quality of Erection Questionnaire (73.4 ± 23.8), and Sexual Quality of Life (67 ± 29.4) questionnaires. No side effects were reported and participants rated the device as very comfortable, simple, and easy to operate.

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Data availability

The data generated and analyzed during this study can be found within the results section of this published article, Additional information on the device and background can be found at www.vertica-labs.com. Additional data/ information are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

Funding

This study was funded by Ohhmed (Tiberia, Israel).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Neuro-Urology Unit, Rambam Healthcare Campus, Haifa, Israel

    Ilan Gruenwald, Boaz Appel & Arik Shechter

  2. The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, The Technion, Haifa, Israel

    Ilan Gruenwald & Arik Shechter

  3. The Sackler faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Alexander Greenstein

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  1. Ilan Gruenwald
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  2. Boaz Appel
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  4. Alexander Greenstein
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Contributions

I.G.: designed the protocol, participated in executing the study protocol, performed the data extraction and evaluation, review and editing of the manuscript, provided feedback on the report. B.A.: helped in designing the protocol, participated in executing the study protocol, accumulation of data, extraction and evaluation, reviewing and editing the manuscript. A.S.: designed the protocol, participated in executing the study protocol, extraction of data and statistical analysis. Aided in reviewing and editing the manuscript. A.G.: designed the protocol, participated in executing the study protocol data extraction and evaluation, reviewing and editing the manuscript, provided feedback on the report.

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Correspondence to Ilan Gruenwald.

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Gruenwald, I., Appel, B., Shechter, A. et al. Radiofrequency energy in the treatment of erectile dysfunction—a novel cohort pilot study on safety, applicability, and short-term efficacy. Int J Impot Res (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-023-00733-1

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