One of the exciting results coming from the first clinical research performed on the treatment of erectile dysfunction using radio frequency (RF) is the indication of an improvement in erection hardness score during treatment with the Vertica device and maintenance of a high level of hardness for at least six months from the time of the last treatment with the device.
One of the accepted ways of assessing the hardness of the erection is via an easy-to-use measurement tool known as the EHS (Erection Hardness Score) The EHS measurement
ranks the hardness of the erection on a scale of one to four, where four is the maximum score. The language used is simple and direct, such that men with erectile dysfunction can use the scale in order to assess the severity of their condition and monitor the effect of
the treatment.
This assessment tool is accepted in the medical community and is considered a reliable measure for measuring erection hardness[1].
The patient is only required to answer one question – How would you rate the hardness
of your erection? And to choose one response that is representative – his EHS score.
Score of 1 – the penis is not hard
Score of 2 – the penis is hard, but not hard enough for penetration
Score of 3 – the penis is hard enough for penetration
Score of 4 – the penis is fully hard
From a practical perspective, going from a score of 2 to a score of 3 indicates the ability of the man to go from not being able to have full sexual intercourse to a condition that allows him to penetrate and have full sexual intercourse. During clinical research performed in the Neuro-urology Unit at the Rambam Medical Campus, the patients were asked to answer the EHS questionnaire during their visit, in order to check if there was a change in the level of hardness of the erection since starting the series of treatments (12 treatments over two months). Monitoring with the EHS questionnaire continued even after the final treatment – around one month after the conclusion of treatment, and at around 3 months and 6 months after the conclusion of treatment.
- The average EHS score of the patients (all of whom with erectile dysfunction) included in the research was 2.15.
- In an evaluation of the hardness level a month after the series of treatments (a total of 12 treatments) with “Vertica”, no patient reported lack of hardness any more (score of 1), and the average hardness score reported by the patients rose to 3.22 (an increase of approximately 1 point in comparison with the initial point score).
- In the follow-up that was performed at 3 months and 6 months after the conclusion of the treatment, the average score had improved by approximately 0.26 and by 0.08 additional points, and reached 3.54 (sufficiently hard for penetration to fully hard). That is to say that the beneficial effect of treatment with the “Vertica” device is maintained and even improved in the majority of the patients over the course of up to six months from the conclusion of the treatment, and enabled many to function and have full sexual intercourse even six months after treatment was stopped.
[1]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17888069/
