Botox against erectile dysfunction! Injections directly into the penis ‘can help impotent men’
- Botox showed a “clear benefit” for men suffering from erectile dysfunction
- Belgian urologists reviewed seven studies involving more than 360 men
- The drug is not currently approved for erectile dysfunction in the UK or US
It might be known for ironing out wrinkles.
But scientists say Botox could also smooth erection problems in men.
Injecting directly into the penis of impotent men relaxes the organ and allows blood to rush into it.
Belgian urologists said the treatment has shown a “clear benefit”, although more studies are needed.
The jab only seemed to last three months.
About half of all men will experience some form of erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives.
According to a study, Botox could help treat men with erectile dysfunction. Belgian urologists say the treatment could be effective as an “almost permanent” therapy for the problem, although more studies are needed
What is the Erection Hardness Scale?
Doctors use a four-point scale to assess the strength of erections.
The scale is self-indicated and corresponds to the opinion of the man.
It is measured as:
0: penis does not enlarge;
1: penis is bigger but not hard;
2: penis is hard but not hard enough for penetration;
3: penis is hard enough for penetration but not quite hard;
4: Penis is totally hard and totally stiff
NHS doctors are currently not allowed to give Botox to impotent men, although studies suggest it helps.
Instead, they are usually given antihypertensive drugs or statins, since the symptoms are more likely to be caused by circulatory problems.
Viagra can be bought from pharmacies without a prescription, while Cialis, Levitra and Spedra require a doctor’s approval.
Botox is also not approved in the USA, but is offered in some private clinics.
New research published in the journal Urology reviewed seven studies on Botox and erectile dysfunction.
The studies, which involved 362 men, dated back to the 1990s and included human and animal data.
The review didn’t say whether all of the men had erectile dysfunction at all, or how severe their cases were.
Either Botox or a placebo was injected into the base of the penis.
Efficacy was measured using the Erection Hardness Scale.
It quantifies erection strength on a four-point scale ranging from zero (penis does not enlarge) to four (penis is completely hard and completely erect).
They also measured blood flow to the penis using ultrasound and interviewed men to determine the extent of their erectile dysfunction before and after treatment.
One study showed that about half of those given Botox responded positively to all three items up to three months later.
But the effect wore off after six months.
Another study showed that 40 percent of impotent men given an injection were able to have sex three months after treatment.
The team led by Dr. Rawad Abou Zahr, a urologist at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, said all studies showed that Botox helped improve erection problems.
They wrote in the journal: “Regarding the duration of benefit from BoNT-A injections, the above studies have described a clear benefit within the first three months of treatment.
“This benefit seems to diminish at the end of the six months. This sheds light on the importance of maintenance therapies in such patients.’
But they said the small sample size means more studies are needed and Botox shouldn’t be spent on ED until clinical trials are complete.
Botox is believed to improve erections by temporarily relaxing the smooth muscle in the walls of blood vessels in the penis.
It blocks nerve signals that normally constrict these muscles, allowing more blood to enter the organ.