Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41906634›Full record

SynthesisBJU international2026

Low-intensity shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction: An abridged Cochrane review.

Onuralp Ergun, Kwangmin Kim, Myung Ha Kim, Eu Chang Hwang, Yooni Blair, Ahmet Gudeloglu, Sijo Parekattil, Philipp Dahm

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BJU international, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Onuralp ErgunDepartment of Urology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Kwangmin KimSurgery, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, South Korea.
Myung Ha KimYonsei Wonju Medical Library, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, South Korea.
Eu Chang HwangDepartment of Urology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, South Korea.ORCID 0000-0002-2031-124X
Yooni BlairDepartment of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-7875-5468
Ahmet GudelogluDepartment of Urology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Sijo ParekattilAvant Concierge Urology, Winter Garden, FL, USA.
Philipp DahmDepartment of Urology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-2819-2553

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo assess the efficacy and safety of low-intensity shockwave therapy (LiSWT) for treating erectile dysfunction (ED) compared to sham therapy.

methodsThis summary is based on the Cochrane systematic review published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2025, Issue 7 (CD013166). We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing LiSWT to sham therapy. We excluded psychogenic or iatrogenic ED, kidney transplants, or radical prostatectomy. Critical outcomes were erectile function, discontinuation, and adverse events; important outcomes included rigidity, satisfaction, and quality of life. Certainty was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

resultsA total of 21 RCTs (1357 men, aged 39-65 years) were analysed. LiSWT may slightly improve short-term erectile function (mean difference [MD] 3.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.89-4.89; I

conclusionsLow-intensity shockwave therapy may improve long-term erectile function and short-term rigidity, with little difference in discontinuation or adverse events. Evidence certainty is low due to methodological limitations and heterogeneity.

Indexed as

Erectile DysfunctionExtracorporeal Shockwave TherapyAdultHumansMaleMiddle AgedPatient SatisfactionQuality of LifeRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment Outcomeerectile dysfunctionextracorporeal shockwave therapypatient satisfactionquality of liferandomised controlled trialstreatment outcome

Identifiers

PMID41906634
PMCPMC13168926

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.