Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the persistent difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection firm enough for sexual activity. It is common, treatable and sometimes an early sign of an underlying vascular, metabolic, hormonal, neurological or psychological condition.
Shockwave Clinic provides confidential erectile dysfunction assessment and non-surgical treatment options in Cape Town and Johannesburg. We focus on identifying likely causes, setting realistic expectations and explaining when medical or specialist referral is appropriate.
An erection depends on healthy blood vessels, nerves, hormones and psychological arousal. ED often has more than one contributing factor.
Because ED may be linked to cardiovascular risk, repeated symptoms should not be dismissed as a normal part of ageing.
Arrange an assessment when erection difficulties are persistent, erections are becoming less firm, morning erections have changed, medication is no longer reliable, or ED is affecting confidence or a relationship.
A useful assessment considers when symptoms started, whether morning or spontaneous erections remain, medication and lifestyle factors, cardiovascular and diabetes risk, libido, testosterone symptoms, mental wellbeing and previous pelvic or prostate treatment.
Blood tests or referral to a medical practitioner may be recommended where diabetes, cholesterol, hormonal or cardiovascular factors require investigation.
Low-intensity shockwave therapy (ESWT) has been tested in sham-controlled clinical trials for erectile dysfunction. It may improve erection quality, particularly in men whose difficulties are linked to blood flow. The average benefit is generally modest and individual results vary. The European Association of Urology guidance recommends considering it for selected men, not as a guaranteed cure or a treatment for every cause of ED.
Men whose ED is mainly caused by severe nerve injury, uncontrolled medical disease, significant hormonal deficiency or psychological distress may require other or additional treatment.
If you are considering treatment, we will explain what the evidence may mean for your individual situation. Shockwave therapy is non-invasive and has shown promising results for selected men with vasculogenic ED, although outcomes vary. You are supported by an integrated team: our in-house GPs may arrange precautionary blood tests and work closely with our shockwave practitioners and clinic founder. Our protocol grew from a collaboration involving a patient living with Peyronie’s disease, doctors, practitioners and the founder. For more detail on research, costs and treatment expectations, read our evidence guide to shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction.
Shockwave Clinic uses the STORZ Medical DUOLITH SD1 with its focused C-ACTOR applicator and dedicated urology protocols. Unlike general radial pressure-wave treatment, focused ESWT directs low-intensity acoustic energy accurately to selected penile treatment areas.
For appropriately selected men with vasculogenic ED, focused low-intensity shockwave therapy may improve validated erectile-function and erection-hardness scores. Some men may also respond better to their existing ED medication. Results depend on the underlying cause and severity, and no individual outcome can be guaranteed.
Your treatment should reflect your body, health history and goals. Rather than relying on one modality, we may combine five treatments in a programme personalised for you. The selection, sequence and dose depend on your assessment and clinical suitability:
Our team has used 14 PulseVac prototypes during more than 24 months of development. PulseVac is planned for release in 2027 as a home-support device for men with ED or Peyronie’s disease, subject to completion of development, testing and applicable regulatory requirements. The development plan includes RoHS compliance and CE marking. If you are interested in future home use, you can pre-register through the Shockwave Clinic home page.
Some patients have reported improvements in erection quality or other symptoms after completing elements of the clinic’s protocol. We regard this feedback as encouraging, but it is observational clinic feedback—not a controlled clinical trial—and it cannot predict how another patient will respond.
The combined five-part protocol has not yet been evaluated in a published controlled study. In particular, no published ED trial has established whether adding EMTT improves outcomes beyond ESWT alone. This is a promising area for future research, not a proven added benefit. Each component has a different evidence base, and we discuss this uncertainty openly so patients can make an informed decision.
Focused ESWT is non-surgical, normally requires no anaesthesia and has no routine recovery period. Temporary tenderness or redness can occur. PRP, carboxytherapy, vacuum and infrared treatment have their own potential risks and suitability considerations. Your practitioner will explain benefits, limitations and alternatives before treatment.
Depending on the cause, appropriate care may include lifestyle and cardiovascular risk management, psychological or relationship support, prescription PDE5 inhibitors such as sildenafil or tadalafil, vacuum devices, hormone treatment for confirmed deficiency, injections or specialist urological care. Shockwave therapy is one option within a broader treatment pathway.
Your visit begins with a confidential history and assessment. The current Initial Assessment & Treatment fee is R5,450 once off and may include, where suitable:
PRP and carboxytherapy are considered separately based on clinical suitability and informed consent. If your findings suggest an underlying medical, hormonal or cardiovascular condition, appropriate testing or referral will be recommended.
Shockwave Clinic provides private erectile dysfunction assessment in Cape Town and Johannesburg. You will receive clear guidance about likely causes, treatment choices and realistic outcomes.
This page provides general health information and does not replace an individual medical diagnosis. Treatment outcomes vary.
Our most commonly asked questions
Low-intensity shockwave therapy delivers acoustic pulses to the treatment area. It has been studied mainly in selected men whose ED is related to reduced blood flow. Some men may experience improved erectile-function scores, but it does not treat every cause of ED and is not a guaranteed cure.
It is a non-surgical, drug-free procedure, but “natural” can be misleading. It is a medical treatment with possible benefits, limitations and alternatives that should be discussed during assessment.
There is no single reliable success rate for every patient. Studies suggest a modest benefit for some men with vasculogenic ED, while others do not respond. Results depend on the cause and severity of ED, general health, device and protocol.
Any change is usually gradual and may be assessed over several weeks or months rather than immediately. Timing and degree of improvement vary, and treatment should be reviewed if there is no meaningful response.
Long-term durability is still uncertain and no permanent result can be promised. Ageing, cardiovascular health, diabetes, medication, smoking and other factors can continue to affect erections after treatment.
The HPCSA registers individual healthcare practitioners and defines their professional scope; it does not certify a treatment as effective. Patients may ask for the treating practitioner’s name, registration details, qualifications and role before consenting to care.
