In November 2025, I will be attending the IURES 2025 conference in Dalaman, Turkey, a scientific event focused on technological advances and recent developments in urology. On Saturday, during the “Andrology and Sexual Health” session, I will take the floor to discuss a topic that is particularly close to my heart: regenerative strategies for erectile dysfunction, ranging from shockwave therapy (ESWT) to PRP therapies.
My goal is to provide an overview of what these options can actually offer patients in real life: in terms of outcomes, safety, and follow-up.
Why do we talk about regenerative strategies for erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is one of the most common reasons for consulting an andrologist. It affects not only a person’s sex life, but also their self-confidence, their relationship with their partner, and sometimes even their overall cardiovascular health.
For several years now, so-called “regenerative” therapies have been available on the market that promise not only to improve symptoms but also to have a deeper effect on vascular and erectile tissue.
In my presentation, I would like to focus on answering some very specific questions:
- What can we actually expect from these treatments?
- For which patients might they be of interest?
- Where is the line between science and marketing?
From shockwave therapy (ESWT) to PRP therapies: separating the wheat from the chaff
I will present various regenerative approaches and explain their principles in an accessible way:
- extracorporeal shock waves (ESWT)
- Idea: promoting blood circulation and tissue repair
- Available data: sometimes encouraging results, but no miracles
- PRP therapies (platelet-rich plasma or similar treatments)
- Principle: Using growth factors from the patient's blood
- open questions: protocols, standardization, study quality
I will focus on:
- the difference between a validated approach and a technique that is still experimental
- the importance of remaining skeptical of promises that sound too good to be true
- the need to integrate these treatments, when they are used, into a comprehensive approach: lifestyle, risk factors, comorbidities, psychology, relationships…
What Really Matters to Patients
Aside from the technology, what matters to my patients is quite simple:
- Will it work for me?
- How long does the effect last?
- Are there any risks or side effects?
- How does this fit into my daily life?
That is why, in my presentation, I will discuss:
- sustainability of the results
- Tolerance and Safety of Different Approaches
- the importance of setting realistic expectations from the start
- the importance of regular follow-up and ongoing dialogue with the patient
I would like to remind you that no therapy, no matter how innovative, is a substitute for:
- a comprehensive medical evaluation
- the search for the underlying causes
- an approach focused on the patient and his or her personal history
IURES 2025: Making Progress Together in the Field of Men’s Sexual Health
For me, IURES 2025 is an opportunity to:
- Share my experience with erectile dysfunction treatment
- exchange ideas with colleagues from other countries about their work methods and results
- compare our impressions with scientific data
- working together to promote men's sexual health in a responsible manner
I am proud to participate in this conference and to contribute to regenerative therapies for erectile dysfunction, guided by the principle that while innovation is essential, it must always be in the service of the patient, with caution, transparency, and scientific rigor.