New Technology Helps Treat Erectile Dysfunction At Home

** Note: This post is sponsored by Firmtech. **

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most common sexual health issues experienced by men. [1] It becomes increasingly prevalent as men age, and is typically defined as difficulty achieving and/or maintaining an erection. ED tends to adversely affect men’s social and personal wellbeing because, for many, it leads to feelings of shame and embarrassment. So what can be done about it? In this post, we’re going to discuss new technology from FirmTech that can detect early signs of ED (before you even notice that there’s a problem), while also assisting in management and treatment of it. 

Common ED Treatments 

There are a number of ways that ED can be treated, most of which require being seen by a healthcare provider. Perhaps the most recognizable treatment for ED is medication (e.g., Viagra, Cialis), which treats ED by enhancing blood flow to the penis. While these medications are highly effective, research finds that a significant number of men discontinue using them because they aren’t responding to the treatment, they experience adverse side effects, or the ongoing cost of a regular prescription is too high. [1]

Another form of therapy that is sometimes used to treat ED is low-intensity shockwave therapy, which has also been shown to have benefits. It works by using sound waves to grow and strengthen blood vessels in the penis. Some healthcare providers also offer stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma injections; however, these treatments have not been tested as thoroughly and currently lack high-quality evidence for their efficacy. [1] 

Using Technology to Treat ED 

Recent technological advancements have shown promise in both detecting and treating ED. For example, AI models can be used to develop algorithms that can not only predict sexual health problems, but also provide education and direct users to appropriate resources. [2] 

While AI tools designed specifically for sexual problems are still in development, “wearables” are already here and have proven useful for helping people keep better tabs on their health. [2] Many of us have already integrated wearables into our everyday lives for overall health (e.g., Apple Watch, Fitbit, Oura Ring), but we now have wearables for our sexual health. 

The FirmTech TechRing is a wearable device for the penis that can both detect and help treat ED. Below, we’ll consider some of the key features of the TechRing and highlight some of the important health information you can learn from using it. 

What You Can Learn From The FirmTech TechRing

The FirmTech TechRing uses a sensor paired with a smartphone app so that users are able to see their own sexual health data. Typically worn during sleep and during sex, the TechRing captures three practical signals: how long erections last, how firm they are over time, and how often they occur during sleep. This data provides individuals with important information about both their vascular and sexual health without needing to see a doctor to do so. 

As a wearable device, the TechRing also helps individuals maintain erections during sex, which is an added benefit to those who are experiencing signs or symptoms of ED. The ring is designed to be safe and comfortable for prolonged sex sessions, and can also help in making orgasms more intense. Compared to other commercially available erection rings on the market, clinical research finds that men prefer the TechRing for both comfort and ease of use. [3]

Perhaps the most impressive feature of the TechRing is just how much insight it can provide into men’s health. With data from over 136,000 erections, FirmTech has actually identified the most common cause of ED, which is venous leak. It turns out that, for most men with erectile issues, their problem isn’t with getting an erection, it’s with keeping it. Blood is simply leaving the penis too quickly. This may be why ED medications don’t work for a lot of guys–they’re targeting the wrong symptom. Medications help blood get into the penis, but they don’t help it to stay there like an erection ring does.

In addition to providing information on sexual health, the TechRing provides important data about men’s health overall. For example, it can aid in identifying symptoms of cardiovascular disease, which is one of the leading causes of death among men. [4] Erectile problems are often an early warning sign of underlying heart problems. Paying attention to things like the number of nocturnal erections you have (which can be monitored with the TechRing) can provide insight into how your cardiovascular health is changing. 

To learn more about the FirmTech TechRing or if you would like to purchase one for yourself, visit myfirmtech.com/justinlehmiller and use code JUSTIN15 for 15% off your purchase.

If you have a sex question of your own, record a voicemail at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology to have it answered on the blog or the podcast. 

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Image courtesy of FirmTech.

References

[1] Capogrosso, P., Albersen, M., Burnett, A. L., Cakir, O. O., Dehó, F., Morgado, L. A., Mulhall, J., Salonia, A., Sarikaya, A. F., Satchi, M., Serefoglu, E. C., Shabbir, M., Sokolakis, I., Yap, T., & Castiglione, F. (2025). Erectile dysfunction: Update on clinical management. European Urology, 88(4), 388–399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2025.05.004

[2] Smerina, D. R., & Pearlman, A. M. (2025). The intersection of artificial intelligence, wearable devices, and sexual medicine. Current Urology Reports, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-024-01244-2

[3] Rendon, D. O., Saffati, G., Whitehead, C., Zuckerman, C., Hom, A., Daily, R., Khera, M., & Cheng, P. J. (2025). Penile constriction devices: A randomized survey study to compare preferences between two medical-grade devices. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 22(1), 43–50. https://doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdae151

[4] Saffati, G., Rendon, D. O., Daily, R., Khera, M., & Mulhall, J. P. (2025). Wearable penile devices: The TechRing. Translational Andrology and Urology, 14(1), 15257–15157. https://doi.org/10.21037/tau-24-548