Erectile dysfunction, which is also known as ED for short, is a problem that can affect any man at any time in his life. And it’s not just a physical problem, because not being able to perform in the bedroom can end up affecting your relationship, as well as your self-esteem.
There are a couple of paths available to treat ED that don’t involve surgery or taking medication like Viagra. One of these paths is TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) therapy.
In this blog post, I’m going to explain whether TENS therapy can help ED, and discuss male TENS unit pad placement for ED. The clinical trials that have been done have used a setup where the pads go on the base of the penis and the underside of the shaft, near the perineum.
I’ll go into detail below.
Dealing with ED
It is thought that ED affects up to 150 million men globally, and the condition is generally associated with being a symptom of other physical conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, smoking, and alcohol abuse.
Erectile dysfunction is defined as a man being unable to both achieve and maintain an erection that allows for satisfactory sexual intercourse.
At any one time, ED affects around 23% of men aged 40 to 80 years worldwide. The condition is prevalent (around 30-90%) in men who have diabetes, which can be the result of reduced blood flow, damage to the blood vessels, and nerve damage.
However, it should be noted that ED can also happen to men who are suffering from emotional and psychological issues. Anxiety, stress, depression, relationship problems, and other mental health conditions can cause a lack of arousal for your junk.
Weak pelvic floor muscles are generally considered to be the cause of not being able to sustain an erection when it comes to ED, because when they are stretched, the pelvic organs aren’t supported.
But unless the underlying problem, whether it’s physical, emotional, or psychological, is dealt with, ED can last from a just few months to many years — no matter how old you are. In addition, the chances of getting ED increase with age, with around 40% of men over 40 being affected, and almost 70% of men over 70 years of age.
Can You Use A TENS Unit For Erectile Dysfunction?
Luckily, electrotherapy stimulation can help, which is why many men are resorting to using a TENS machine to manage their erectile dysfunction issues, without having to resort to taking medication like Viagra, injections, or going under the knife to have a penile implant put in.
Regular use of a TENS unit can even help to alleviate any pain that is also an associated symptom of ED, making it an extremely beneficial treatment option for your condition. In addition, many users have reported that using a TENS has helped them to recover their erectile function equivalent to what they experienced in their 30s.
Regular use of a TENS unit will even help to alleviate any pain that is also an associated symptom of ED, making it an extremely beneficial treatment option for your condition. In addition, many users have reported that using a TENS has helped them to recover their erectile function equivalent to what they experienced in their 30s.
The main reason TENS units are able to treat erectile dysfunction is that it helps to trigger neovascularization, which means that new blood vessels are formed. This results in an increase in overall blood flow to the penis, which will allow for an erection to happen again.
In one research study, it was concluded that after just six weeks of using a TENS unit, the subjects found that they were able to manage their erectile dysfunction much more effectively than with the exercises they were given by their doctors.
In fact, in a study that was published by the NIH in 2020, which involved a group of participants that were suffering from severe erectile dysfunction, and ranging in age from 25 to 65, it was found that although aerobic exercise and TENS units were both effective at treating the condition, the electrical stimulation therapy was far superior in helping them to heal their symptoms.
It was found that although aerobic exercise and TENS units were both effective at treating the condition, the electrical stimulation therapy was far superior in helping them to heal their symptoms.
Using a TENS Unit to Treat Erectile Dysfunction
Although there haven’t been any studies done that prove conclusively that TENS units can help men suffering from ED, many men do find that this type of electrotherapy does help improve their symptoms.
However, it should be noted that you should not place the electrode pads on your genitals, because the sensitive skin could react badly to the electrical stimulation. In fact, they can even cause this sensitive skin to burn and blister.
You should not place the electrode pads on your genitals, because the sensitive skin could react badly to the electrical stimulation. In fact, they can even cause this sensitive skin to burn and blister.
The electrical currents that you will feel may cause you to jump, but don’t worry, as you’re not really electrocuting your junk, and it shouldn’t hurt, because you can control the intensity of the pulses that are emitted from your TENS device.
It is recommended that you spread out your sessions to about two a week, for around 15 to 20 minutes each. Although it’s not guaranteed, some people will find some improvement in their ED symptoms after about two weeks.
Of course, this will vary from individual to individual and can depend on how long you’ve been suffering, as well as the severity of your symptoms.
Plus, because you’re not using a medication, it can take some time for the body to respond to the healing process, so you should persevere with the TENS unit treatment if you don’t get immediate results.
Male TENS Unit Pad Placement For ED
This clinical trial placed the TENS unit’s electrode pads on the base of the penis and the underside of the shaft, near the perineum (that’s the taint, in layman’s terms). This trial, published in 2008, used a similar setup.
It is recommended that you never place the pads on the shaft itself, due to the sensitivity of the skin.
If you want to try this, talk to your doctor first.
If you’re worried about electrocuting your penis (you won’t!), then you can also put one electrode pad directly above your pubic bone underneath your belly button, and another just above the crack of your buttocks. Doing it this way may take longer, but you will still be benefiting from the electrotherapy.
This will ensure that your pelvic floor muscles are being stimulated, which in time, will support your spine, and assist in eventually achieving an erection.
The Process
To begin, make sure that your TENS device is switched off before you attempt to put the electrode pads on your body. The last thing you need is to give yourself a nasty shock in your nether regions.
You’ll also want to make sure that the skin where you will be placing the electrodes is clean and dry, so that the pads will stick properly. It may also be a good idea to shave any hair in the surrounding area. The pads will stick better in this way.
You’ll want to make sure that the skin where you will be placing the electrodes is clean and dry, so that the pads will stick properly. It may also be a good idea to shave any hair in the surrounding area. The pads will stick better in this way.
You can apply gel to the electrode pads, before placing them on your skin, but this isn’t a necessary step. The TENS unit will work just the same.
Finally, you simply hook in the wire connectors to the electrode pads, and then plug them into your TENS device before turning it.
Make sure you turn it on at the lowest setting to prevent a surprise shock, before adjusting the TENS device to your preferred mode of comfort.
Final Thoughts
Dealing with erectile dysfunction isn’t just about the physical limitations you’re experiencing. The condition can also take a toll on your confidence levels and relationships.
Using a TENS unit to combat ED is very much experimental, with trials ongoing. However, it appears that using a TENS unit may help you to combat the problem, and you don’t need to take additional medication in order for it to work.
