Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in Peyronie’s Disease

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has been on the rise for the treatment of Peyronie's disease. There have been 21 original papers, 1 meta-analysis, and 2 review articles published. Analyzing these studies systematically, ESWT seems to have an effect on penile pain during erection and on the improvement of sexual function. It seems that pain resolves faster after ESWT treatment than during the course of natural history. The effect on plaque size and penile curvature is less impressive. The most recent studies do not provide evidence that ESWT has an effect on curvature and plaque size. Despite the lack of severe side effects, the data concerning efficacy published to date do not justify recognizing ESWT as an evidence-based, standard procedure for the treatment of Peyronie's disease.