How Acoustic Wave Therapy is Disrupting Traditional Erectile Dysfunction Solutions

PrimeWave is changing the way men think about treatment for erectile dysfunction. Rather than treating ED symptoms, the company is fixing the underlying problems with Acoustic Wave Therapy.

PrimeWave CEO Darrin Blume and its Director of Business Development Matt Goodwin explain what the technology is, how it works, and why they think it’s the future of men’s sexual health.

Darrin Blume: Acoustic Wave Therapy uses low-frequency sound waves to treat areas of the body that need additional blood flow. Prior to Acoustic Wave Therapy, every ED treatment that ever existed was a temporary fix, treating the symptoms and not the cause of the problem. We think Acoustic Wave Therapy is the one true solution to erectile dysfunction.

Blume: If you suffer from erectile dysfunction, it’s often because the arteries and veins that lead to the penis are blocked, preventing the flow of blood needed to achieve an erection. Lifestyle factors and genetics contribute to these blocked arteries.

By directing sound waves, you can break up these fatty deposits in veins and arteries and restore blood flow to your penis.

Additionally, acoustic therapy helps the body release what we call growth factor, which actually promotes the growth of new blood vessels and new nerves. In a way, it’s similar to the process that occurs during exercise when the body breaks down the muscle in order for it to grow over time.

Blume: This technology was discovered in the search for a solution to kidney stones. In the past, if a stone was too large to pass, doctors would operate on the kidney to remove the stone, which is invasive and dangerous. Then someone realized that high-intensity sonic waves could be used to break up stones into smaller pieces that could be passed without surgery. It’s very effective.

They also discovered that areas around the kidney began to grow new blood vessels and new nerve endings. Then, certain doctors switched to low-intensity shock waves to release a growth factor as a way to help treat other parts of the body. In the 1970s and 80s, doctors started using these low-intensity shock waves as a way to treat physical injuries, joint pain, ankle injuries and knee injuries.

Blume: In the past, treatments involved drugs, surgery or painful injections. They allowed a man to have sex, but only on a temporary basis. He will get an erection for a few hours while the drug dilates his blood vessels, but it eventually wears off and he is still the same guy with the same problem.

Additionally, Viagra only works in about 50% of men and, of those men, it can become less effective over time. In order for it to remain effective, men will need to continually increase the dosage in order to get the same initial effect. With that increase in dosage, you have increased effects like headache, backache, hearing problems, vision problems or heart attacks.

Mathew Goodwin: I think one of the huge benefits of Acoustic Wave Therapy is that it brings back spontaneity to your love life. If you take a Viagra or Cialis, you have to take the pill, wait 20 minutes to two hours before you want to have sex. You're also not supposed to drink alcohol before you have sex and some of the other treatments on the market are even more invasive.

Blume: About 15 years ago, doctors had a lightbulb moment. They realized that the penis was an area of the body that really could benefit from restored nerves and blood vessels. So they began experimenting in Europe, using low-intensity shockwave therapy to see if it would help with erectile dysfunction. The success was almost immediate. It's actually been standard practice for ED treatment in Europe for about the last 10 years. This treatment has only been used in the U.S. for three years, and we're one of the first clinic groups to employ this new technology.

Blume: Previous soundwave machines create a percussive sound wave by striking a ceramic plate with a piston. It was noisy and painful. We affectionately called it ‘the jackhammer.’ So we investigated new technologies. We discovered a new European technology that used electrified crystals to create a piezoelectric-generated shockwave. It’s a completely different mechanism for creating a shockwave; it’s highly effective and is virtually pain-free. It’s truly a win-win.

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 *

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.