For patients in South Africa

Shockwave therapy for ED in Turkey from South Africa: a plain guide

Shockwave therapy (ESWT, extracorporeal shockwave therapy) is a non-surgical treatment for erectile dysfunction. A device delivers low-intensity sound waves to the penis with the aim of improving blood flow. This page explains who it may suit, what a session involves, and the practical question South African men need to answer first: how a course of sessions over several weeks fits a trip from home. It is part of our men’s health and urology guide.

Who it may suit

• Adult men with mild to moderate ED
• Men whose ED is linked to reduced blood flow to the penis
• Men who would rather avoid surgery or long-term medication
• Men who have not had enough benefit from oral ED medicines

ESWT is not suitable for everyone, and it is not a substitute for checking the cause of ED, which can be linked to heart disease, diabetes or hormone problems. A urologist assesses you first and tells you honestly whether ESWT is likely to help.

What a session involves

Treatment is given in the clinic as an outpatient. There are no incisions or injections and no anaesthesia. A specialised medical device is applied to targeted areas of the penis for about 15 to 20 minutes. Most men feel nothing more than mild discomfort, and you can return to normal activities straight away.

A full plan is several sessions spread over several weeks, depending on your condition and how you respond. Any improvement tends to build gradually rather than appear after one session, and results vary from man to man.

Does the trip make sense from South Africa?

This is the key question. A single short treatment is hard to justify with a ten-hour flight each way. Before you book, ask:

• How many sessions are recommended in your case, and over how many weeks?
• Can the course be completed in one stay, and how long would that stay be?
• Is ESWT being combined with other treatment, such as medication?
• What follow-up happens once you are home?

For many South African men, ESWT makes more sense combined with an assessment or another treatment already planned in Turkey. Other options are explained in the erectile dysfunction treatment guide.

Planning the trip

• Direct flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Istanbul take around ten hours, then a short flight to İzmir
• South Africans need an e-Visa; see the e-Visa guide
• Because there is no anaesthesia or wound, flying home is not a medical concern after ESWT itself
• Bring a list of your medicines and recent blood results, and take home a written summary of the treatment for your GP
• Turkey is one hour ahead of South Africa, which makes follow-up calls easy
• Medical schemes generally do not cover elective treatment abroad, and travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment

Our treatment guarantee covers medical complications arising from treatment for one year. Clinic details are on the clinic facts page and our complaints page explains how problems are handled. More background is on the ESWT shockwave treatment page.

What we will not do

We will not offer ESWT without an assessment, we will not promise that it will work, and we will not sell a course of sessions that cannot realistically be completed on your trip.

Frequently asked questions

Is shockwave therapy for ED painful?

Most men feel no pain or only mild discomfort. No anaesthesia is needed, and you can return to normal activities straight after a session.

How many ESWT sessions will I need?

A course is usually several sessions over a number of weeks, depending on your condition and response. Ask for the exact plan before you book flights.

Does ESWT work for everyone?

No. It is used mainly for mild to moderate ED linked to blood flow, and results vary. A urologist assesses you first and tells you whether it is likely to help.

Is it worth travelling from South Africa just for ESWT?

Often not on its own, because a course runs over several weeks. It usually makes more sense combined with an assessment or other treatment planned in Turkey.

What decides the cost of shockwave therapy?

The number of sessions, whether an assessment and tests are needed first, any other treatment combined with it, and what the package includes. A firm figure is only possible after an assessment.

Start with a free online consultation. Planning the trip? Read the guide for South African patients and the e-Visa guide.