Thursday March 28th, 2024
Download SceneNow app
Copied

Cairo University Trial Tests Botox as Erectile Dysfunction Treatment

Would you prick your prick to prick a chick?

Staff Writer

What comes to mind when you hear botox is treating crow’s feet or forehead lines, but researchers in Egypt are now using it to help treat erectile dysfunction (ED).

A new trial is being conducted at Cairo University in which botulinum toxin is injected into the base of the penis of men with ED, relaxing the muscles and increasing the blood flow to the area.

Following animal experiments and a pilot study on 24 men, it has been found that the injections increase blood flow by 50 percent.

Complete ED affects about five percent of 40+ year-olds, with the number further rising to about 15 percent for men aged 70 and older. Mild to moderate ED affects approximately 10 percent more for every passing decade of their lives (i.e. 50 percent of men in their 50s, 60 percent of men in their 60s) according to UW Health.

Although stress, psychological and social aspects can be factored into the causes of ED, more often than not the cause is vascular problems.  

In men with ED, the blood vessels narrow down with age or extra fatty deposits. In view of these facts, medications like Viagra or Cialis, or simply adhering to a healthier lifestyle may help combat ED. However, some men don’t respond to such treatments, and get troubling side effects like headaches and visual disturbances.

In a comment from DailyMail about Cairo University's technique, Professor Raj Persad, a consultant urologist with Bristol Urology Associates, said:

"This is an interesting use of Botox. As with its use elsewhere, side-effects may occur. There is a theoretical risk that overuse could lead to permanent dilation of blood vessels and a permanent erection."

Further clinical testing with scientific scrutiny will be necessary before adoption into clinical use. "But this therapy may well one day take its place in the range of tailored treatments for erectile dysfunction."