Defeating the Psychological Effects of Erectile Dysfunction

The COVID-19 pandemic may have caused another unexpected casualty: men’s sex lives. 

According to operators of PrimeWave, a medical clinic franchise that offers innovative ED treatments using acoustic waves, increased stress has a direct impact on men’s sexual performance. 

And there’s evidence that Americans’ stress levels are skyrocketing. A recent study showed that 42% of adults in the U.S. reported feelings of anxiety or depression at the end of 2020, 11% higher than the year before. The stress of lockdowns, economic uncertainty and the pandemic are cited as the cause.

That has implications for men’s health. While vascular disease is the most common cause of ED, psychological stress also plays a role in both creating and prolonging it. Currently, ED affects about 30 million men in the United States, and 50% of men in their 50s will experience it during their lifetime. 

Add external stressors to ED, and now you have a negative feedback loop. Men are unable to achieve or maintain an erection, which creates feelings of inadequacy, which inevitably leads to more stress.

“Erectile dysfunction causes confidence problems with men as they lose their ability to get and maintain firm erections,” said Brady Flowers, a clinic manager and PrimeWave consultant. “That alone is highly stressful. But external factors — money trouble, relationship problems, job worries or anxiety about COVID-19 can exacerbate the problem.”

And ED affects both partners, said Flowers. “ED causes couples to grow apart because they don't have that physical bond anymore, which causes even more stress,” he said. “Often the wife or partner thinks the erectile dysfunction is their fault — maybe they think they’re not attractive any longer. That causes additional relationship pressures.”

Flowers says that typical stress triggers for ED may also include performance anxiety. “The expectation that it’s time to perform may cause stress and anxiety for a man, making ED worse,” he said.

Sometimes medications like Viagra or Cialis, which help improve blood flow, can be used to treat ED in the short term. But those are temporary solutions. If the ED is caused by vascular issues to begin with, Flowers recommends Acoustic Wave Therapy.

“Acoustic Wave Therapy is a long-lasting remedy rather than medication,” he said. “It’s more of a solution rather than a Band-Aid.” 

According to Flowers, PrimeWave’s Acoustic Wave Therapy creates a positive psychological effect for a man because it doesn’t require him to take pills to achieve an erection. “Men just feel like their old selves again, which really increases their confidence,” he said.

Acoustic Wave Therapy works by eliminating underlying vascular blockages that cause weak erections as well as improving nerve function in the penis, according to Flowers. “The treatment stimulates tissue repair and blood vessel growth that creates additional blood flow. It’s a very effective treatment,” he said. 

But more than just alleviating physical symptoms, Flowers says it improves their outlook and mood. “We've treated thousands of men, and the majority of them become much happier once they get their erections back,” he said. “It's such an important part of their life.”

“We’re lucky to be in the business of happy patients,” he said. “We create happiness in men's lives.” 

The initial investment to open a PrimeWave franchise ranges from $209,750 to $453,101, including a $50,000 franchise fee. The brand is actively seeking franchise owners in Atlanta, Denver and Texas. For more information on franchising with PrimeWave, please visit https://primewave.org/.

About PrimeWave

Established in 2018 by partners Matt Goodwin and Darrin Blume, PrimeWave Medical Group offers a unique and innovative entryway into the $4.7 billion erectile-dysfunction industry for qualified entrepreneurs. By offering a safe and non-invasive application of acoustic wave therapy, PrimeWave provides an effective alternative to ED treatments like pills and needle injections, avoiding the side effects, discomfort and lifestyle challenges associated with those treatments. PrimeWave’s franchise model provides owners with a complete operational plan for building and operating a successful medical clinic plus full-time operational, medical and marketing support to ensure franchisee success. PrimeWave currently has locations in Arizona and Nevada and is actively seeking franchisees in new markets across the U.S.