Focused shockwave therapy for ED
Erections weaken when the blood supply is poor.
The treatment uses pulses of sound to encourage the growth of new blood vessels, improving the blood supply behind an erection. Every appointment, first to last, is with Dr Shah himself.
- No drugs
- No anaesthetic needed
- No surgery
- No planned downtime
Free consultation. Six sessions — £1,200, payable in full or from £200 a month, interest-free.
Online booking takes two minutes. Nothing in the booking, calendar invite or card statement names the treatment.
02 — where most men start
Does this sound familiar?
ED is rarely just about whether an erection happens. For many men it is the unpredictability — the anxiety, the avoidance, the planning around a tablet — that wears them down.
- Erections are less firm than they used to be
- They sometimes fade before or during sex
- Tablets help, but you dislike planning around them
- Tablets have become less reliable, or cause side effects
- The change has come on gradually rather than overnight
- You want to know whether there is a physical cause that can be treated
03 — the evidence
What the evidence shows
In pooled randomised trials, men treated with focused shockwave had roughly four times the odds of achieving erections firm enough for penetration, compared with a sham device — an inactive placebo.
Men treated with focused shockwave had roughly four times the odds of achieving erections firm enough for penetration.
Group averages, not a prediction for any individual — results varied between trials.
The evidence, in detail
The strongest single source is a meta-analysis pooling the randomised, sham-controlled trials to that date. The figures on this page are drawn from it and a larger 2025 review.
Across ten randomised, sham-controlled trials in 873 men, focused shockwave gave roughly four times the odds of reaching an erection-hardness score of 3 or more — firm enough for penetration (odds ratio 4.35) — and an average improvement of about four points more than sham on the IIEF-EF questionnaire (0–30 scale; 95% CI 2.09–5.84). Source: Sokolakis & Hatzichristodoulou, Int J Impot Res 2019.
- Main source
- Sokolakis & Hatzichristodoulou, systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials, Int J Impot Res 2019
- Participants
- 873 men across 10 sham-controlled randomised trials
- Population
- Mainly mild-to-moderate vascular (blood-flow-related) erectile dysfunction
- Comparison
- Real focused shockwave vs a sham (inactive placebo) device
- Outcome measured
- Change in validated erectile-function questionnaire score
- Result
- Average improvement of about 4 points (IIEF-EF, 0–30 scale; 95% CI 2.09–5.84) greater than sham, and roughly four times the odds of reaching a firmer erection score
- Wider context
- A 2025 review of 32 trials (1,986 men) reported benefit sustained up to 12 months, strongest in vascular ED — though it pooled several “micro-energy” treatments together rather than focused shockwave alone
- Main limitation
- Trial protocols and devices vary; guidelines remain cautious and differ — European guidance gives a weak recommendation for selected men with vasculogenic ED, while some other bodies still regard it as investigational; questionnaire scores improved more consistently than objective blood-flow measures; durability beyond 12 months is not well established
04 — how it works
Supporting the blood vessels involved
Erections depend on blood entering the erectile tissue and staying there. As the small vessels supplying the penis lose condition, erections weaken. Shockwave uses repeated pulses to encourage new vessels to grow — change builds over the weeks after a course, not on the day.
The pathway is simple: a medical consultation, a course of six weekly 20-minute sessions, then a review of your response with Dr Shah.
What happens on the day
A private room, and every appointment is with Dr Shah. Gel is applied and a small handpiece delivers repeated pulses — most men describe tapping. No erection is needed, a session takes about 20 minutes, and you can go straight back to your day.
05 — shockwave vs tablets
How is this different from tablets?
A tablet boosts blood flow for a few hours per dose. Shockwave treats the vessels themselves.
| Tablets | Focused shockwave | |
|---|---|---|
| Taken before sex | Yes | No |
| Works on the underlying cause | No | Aims to |
| Effect after stopping | None | May persist |
| Format | Ongoing prescription | 6-week course |
| Evidence base | Strongest | Smaller, more mixed |
| Side effects | Possible, drug interactions | Usually mild, short-lived |
Many men use both — which suits you depends on the cause and severity of your ED.
06 — who it helps
Who it helps
Most likely to help
The evidence is most favourable where ED is blood-flow-related — the most common type, likelier with age, diabetes, high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, extra weight or smoking — and mild to moderate rather than complete. Treatment is never booked directly: the consultation establishes whether your pattern resembles the men most likely to benefit.
Younger men
ED in your twenties or thirties is more common than most realise. In many otherwise-healthy younger men no vascular cause is found — and because shockwave works on blood flow, it is unlikely to help then. The consultation gives you an honest assessment either way; if shockwave isn’t right, Dr Shah will say so plainly and point you to what is.
07 — who treats you
Personally treated by Dr Gohar Shah
Every consultation and every session is carried out personally by Dr Gohar Shah — GMC-registered doctor, practising NHS GP, 14 years assessing men with erectile difficulties.
GMC 6127983 — check the register
“My first job is to understand what has changed, check whether anything wider needs attention, and tell you honestly whether shockwave is a sensible option. If it is not, you will leave knowing what is.”
Treatment is with the STORZ DUOLITH SD1 T-TOP ULTRA — a CE-marked focused shockwave system made by STORZ Medical of Switzerland, the type used in the clinical trials.
Private by design
Private room — No waiting room — appointments are scheduled so patients never overlap.
Private booking — Booked as a “Private medical consultation” — the treatment is never named in your booking, confirmation or calendar.
Private statement — Your card statement shows only “VICTORIA PARK CLINIC”.
Private contact — Every conversation, from enquiry to treatment, is with Dr Shah directly.
08 — the first step
What it costs, and how to start
The decision today is a free consultation, not a course. New or changing ED can be an early sign of something worth finding — diabetes, cardiovascular risk, a hormonal or medication effect. You leave knowing what is behind the change, whatever you decide.
£1,200
- Six sessions, each delivered personally by Dr Shah
- Medical consultation and suitability assessment — free
- Review of your blood results and cardiovascular risk
- Clinical review of your response after the course
- One doctor throughout, start to finish
Or spread the cost
0% interestOr from £200 a month, interest-free — six payments of £200, or three of £400. Arranged at your consultation.
many men notice change around here
response reviewed with Dr Shah
Starting with a single session
A single first session is £225, arranged at your consultation. Continue to the full course within 30 days and the £225 is credited in full — £975 then follows. Shockwave is given as a course of six; a single session is a way to begin, not a protocol in itself.
Before treatment a set of blood tests is needed — arranged through Dr Shah or your own GP; details in the FAQ.1
Pricing terms
Before you decide
Focused shockwave is generally well tolerated, but results vary and it is not suitable for every cause of ED.
Results vary between men, and improvement is not guaranteed.
Reported side effects are usually mild and short-lived. These can include temporary tenderness, redness or bruising.
New or worsening ED can occasionally be an early sign of heart, hormonal, neurological or psychological problems worth checking.
If another treatment or a referral is the better route for you, that is what will be recommended.
Each of these uncertainties is the reason the consultation comes first — so a course is only recommended to men whose ED it can realistically help.
09 — questions
Frequently asked
How much does the programme cost?
The consultation is free. A six-session course is £1,200, payable in full or in interest-free monthly instalments — six payments of £200, or three of £400 — with no credit application and no credit check.
Can I start with a single session?
Yes. A single first session is £225, arranged at your consultation, and is credited in full against the course price if you continue within 30 days. Focused shockwave is given as a course of six sessions, so a single session is a way to begin rather than a treatment protocol in itself.
Does treatment hurt?
Most men find it easily tolerable — a tapping sensation during the session. No anaesthetic is normally needed.
What actually happens during a session?
You lie comfortably on a treatment couch. A small handpiece is applied to the shaft of the penis using gel and a disposable cover, and moved over the area during the session. Local anaesthetic is not normally needed, and the intensity can be adjusted during the session. It is a clinical, unhurried procedure — and you are able to position yourself and stay covered as much as possible throughout.
Will anyone else be in the room?
Every consultation and treatment is carried out by Dr Shah himself — you will not be passed to a nurse or technician at any point. This is a single-doctor practice, so a trained chaperone is not routinely present. Because this is an intimate procedure, you are welcome to bring a friend or relative with you, or to ask for a trained chaperone to be arranged — that needs notice and may mean rescheduling your session. Whichever you choose is recorded, and you can change your mind at any time.
Is my privacy protected — what shows on my statement?
Your information is confidential and stays under your control. Nothing identifying the treatment appears on your card statement — it shows “VICTORIA PARK CLINIC”, the same as for any other service. The booking form asks for your name, email and phone number — nothing clinical. At the end of your course you are given a clinical letter, which you are welcome (but not required) to share with your own GP for continuity of care.
Do I need blood tests first?
Yes, and they do two jobs. They look for conditions that may be behind the change — diabetes, abnormal cholesterol, low testosterone — and they help judge how likely you are to respond, because a poor metabolic picture makes a good result less likely. Dr Shah can arrange them, your own GP can do them, or recent results may be used if they are current.
Can I keep using ED tablets?
In many cases the two can be used together — but any change to your medication should only be made on medical advice. This is discussed as part of the plan that suits you.
Which machine is used, and does it matter?
Yes, it matters. Treatment here is always with a focused device — the STORZ DUOLITH SD1 T-TOP ULTRA — not a radial one. “Shockwave” covers two technologies: radial devices spread energy at the surface, focused devices deliver it to a set depth. They are not interchangeable, and the clinical trials behind this treatment were conducted with focused devices — worth asking any clinic which kind it uses.
Who carries out the treatment?
Dr Shah is a GMC-registered doctor (MRCGP, PGDip Dermatology) and a Certified Shockwave Professional, trained on the STORZ Duolith system used in your treatment. Every consultation and session is carried out by him personally.
What if I finish the course and see no improvement?
That can happen — results vary, and improvement is not guaranteed. Your response is reviewed with Dr Shah after the course, and the next step is discussed honestly: that may mean tablets, a different treatment, or a referral. A further course is never recommended simply because the first one did not work.
When might I notice a change, and how long might it last?
Any change is gradual rather than immediate, and would be expected to develop over the weeks following the course rather than on the day of a session. Trials have followed men for up to a year; durability beyond that is not well established. A further course is only ever considered on your individual response.
Is there parking?
Yes. Victoria Park Square has free on-street parking all day at weekends and after 5.30pm on weekdays, and the clinic has two driveway spaces you are welcome to use, subject to availability on the day. At other times, apps such as JustPark list nearby spaces. If you cycle, there are bike stands in the front courtyard, and if you prefer the Tube, the clinic is a two-minute walk from Bethnal Green station.
Ready when you are
Book a consultation
A discreet, one-to-one consultation with Dr Shah — no need to explain the problem more than once, and the same doctor throughout. The consultation is free and commits you to nothing.
Booking takes two minutes.
Prefer to call? 07345 008 695
Not ready to book? Send a confidential enquiry below and Dr Shah will reply personally.
Your consultation and treatment are provided personally by Dr Gohar Shah (GMC 6127983), at a private consulting room in Bethnal Green.
Notes
- Before treatment, a set of blood tests is needed — to look for contributing conditions, assess wider cardiovascular risk, and help judge how likely you are to respond. These can be arranged through Dr Shah or your own GP, or recent results may be used if current. ↩
- Your medical care is provided by Dr Gohar Shah as an independent practitioner. Payment is collected by GS Medical Services Ltd, trading as Victoria Park Clinic, which issues invoices and handles refunds; it appears as “VICTORIA PARK CLINIC” on your statement. The consultation is free of charge, and there is nothing to pay if treatment is not recommended or you decide not to proceed. ↩
- Treatment is for adults aged 18 and over. ↩