How statins could boost your love life: Cholesterol lowering drugs 'reduce erectile dysfunction'

Dailymail.co.uk - Statins are known for lowering cholesterol but they could also improve your love life, according to a new study.

American researchers have found the commonly used drugs may benefit men with erectile dysfunction.

They now hope their findings will encourage men with high cholesterol to take their medication.

Erectile dysfunction is common in older men, especially among those with heart problems, for which cholesterol-lowering statins are frequently prescribed.

Previous research has suggested that taking statins can negatively affect testosterone levels.

This has led to questions about the effects of the widely used medication on the quality of erections.

In the first analysis of previous studies on erectile dysfunction and statins, researchers identified 11 trials that measured erectile function using the International Index of Erectile Function.

The IIEF is a self-administered survey with five questions, each scored on a five-point scale and totalled, with lower values representing poorer sexual function.

Analysis of all 11 studies combined found a statistically significant effect of statins on erectile function in men who had both high cholesterol and erectile dysfunction.

Overall, erectile function scores rose by 3.4 points in men who took statins - from 14.0 to 17.4.

This represents a 24.3 per cent improvement.

'The increase in erectile function scores with statins was approximately one-third to one-half of what has been reported with drugs like Viagra, Cialis or Levitra,' said study lead investigator Dr John Kostis, director of the Cardiovascular Institute and associate dean for Cardiovascular Research at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

‘It was larger than the reported effect of lifestyle modification. For men with erectile dysfunction who need statins to control cholesterol, this may be an extra benefit.’

He believes that statins may work to improve erectile function by helping blood vessels dilate properly and improving vascular blood flow to the penis, which is often restricted in men with erectile dysfunction.

He added that while statins are not recommended as a primary treatment for erectile dysfunction in patients with healthy cholesterol levels, the added benefit may encourage more men who need statins to take them.

Dr Kostis added: ‘Rather than preventing the possibility of a heart attack in the future, the more immediate benefit of improving erectile function might improve adherence to statin therapy.’

Erectile dysfunction affects millions of men and occurs more often in those over the age of 40.

Common causes include heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, tobacco use, depression and stress.

Dr Kostis said that larger trials are needed to further investigate the link between statin therapy and erectile function.

The study was published online by the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

LOL: PETA Claims Eating Chicken Wings Could Affect Your Baby’s Penis Size

Foodbeast.com - Oh, PETA, you never fail to amuse. Yes, PETA is alleging that eating chicken wings during pregnancy can affect the size of your baby’s penis.  It’s part of their attempt to curb participation in the National Buffalo Wing Festival. Of course.

In a letter from PETA to the festival’s founder, Drew Cerza, the organization claims that “scientific evidence shows that the sons of pregnant women who consume chicken are more likely to have smaller penises because of a chemical found in the birds’ flesh.”  Which, of course, leads us to wonder how the people in Buffalo, NY, home of the Buffalo Wing Festival, fare when it comes to these, um, sizable matters.

According to Women’s Health, they don’t have too much to worry about. The chemical PETA points to is phthalate and while it’s true that boys born to moms with the highest levels of phthalate exposure were more likely to have shorter penises, poultry didn’t rank very high on the laundry list of foods containing the chemical.

P.S.

Spices are actually on top of the list. Gotta love how science does that to you.

New treatment for sexual dysfunction

Foxnews.com - For centuries, women have suffered in silence with sexual dysfunction.

As medical technology has evolved to address the dysfunction of human sexuality, solutions for women are lacking. The advent of Viagra changed the lives of millions of men across the globe and, perhaps, repaired a few relationships.

But Viagra only addresses a fraction of the sexual health issues facing the entire population, and obviously excludes women all together.

Forty-three percent of women are suffering from some sort of sexual dysfunction – and that’s just the number of women who report it. There is heavy suspicion among experts that this number is much higher, somewhere around 60 percent, because many patients – men included – do not discuss issues in the bedroom with their doctor.

Sex is no longer a taboo subject for the doctor’s office – in fact, talking about sex isn’t really taboo at all. If you look around, sex is up for discussion everywhere, so why wouldn’t you talk to your doctor about it? Especially today, when there are solutions – for men and women – that address sexual dysfunction for all ages and a wide variety of conditions. 

Many Americans are moving toward a more holistic approach to maintaining good health and well-being. So instead of popping a pill to improve your libido, some women are opting for a new kind of injection which uses your own blood to naturally boost sexual function. And the best part, there’s one for men, too.

The O-Shot for women and the Priapus Shot for men are made from platelet-rich plasma (PRP) sourced from your own blood, which is then activated, to heal aged and damaged tissue of the sex organs.

PRP therapy is nothing new – it’s been used for the popular Vampire Facelift, and for decades to treat athletic injuries and promote healing after certain procedures – but those same healing properties are now helping giving patients a boost...in the bedroom.  

Here’s how it works: Local anesthetic cream is applied to the injection sites and then PRP is injected at those precise locations. These treatments rejuvenate the “orgasm system” by stimulating stem cells found in the tissue.  New blood vessels and sensory cells are formed and go to work to increase function and improve sensitivity.

The entire procedure takes less than 15 minutes and requires no downtime. Results are typically seen within a week, and many patients experience improvements like increased sensitivity, heightened arousal and improved function within three weeks. 

Many men report increases in firmness of erection, penile length and girth, improved blood flow and circulation, as well as better sexual sensation, pleasure and stamina. Men who struggle with sexual dysfunction as a result of an enlarged prostate, prostate cancer, surgery, drug side effects or diabetes also often experience nerve regeneration following treatment with the Priapus Shot.

Women who have struggled with decreased sensitivity, inability to orgasm, vaginal dryness, pain with sex and reduced sexual desire – regardless of age or stage in life – can also see vast improvements in overall sexual function, desire and performance with the O-Shot. It also helps women suffering from stress incontinence and urge incontinence – in some cases – relieving symptoms.  In fact, some of my patients suffering from incontinence have actually been able to go off their medication after receiving the O-Shot.

While these shots offer many benefits to patients of all ages with sexual dysfunction issues, it’s important to remember that there is no “magic bullet” cure.  A healthy lifestyle, including healthy eating and routine physical activity, is necessary as part of your sexual health treatment program.

Racun Laba-laba Bisa Jadi Viagra Masa Depan

Kompas.com - Seekor laba-laba yang dikenal dengan laba-laba pisang diketahui memiliki racun yang sangat berbahaya. Namun, pada saat yang sama, racun laba-laba ini potensial mengobat gangguan ereksi pria.

Laba-laba yang dimaksud merupakan jenis Phoneutria nigriventer, anggota dari keluarga Ctenidae. Laba-laba ini berasal dari Afrika Selatan namun menyebar seiring penyebaran pisang yang menjadi relung habitatnya.

Diketahui sebelumnya, gigitan laba-laba jenis ini bisa menyebabkan sesak napas, tremor, air liur berlebihan, dan bahkan bisa mengakibatkan kematian jika jumlah racun yang masuk cukup besar.

Akibat lain, seperti yang terungkap berdasarkan hasil penelitian, racun laba-laba ini dapat menyebabkan priapism, ereksi berkepanjangan yang dapat merusak jaringan penis secara permanen.

Karena bisa menyebabkan ereksi berkepanjangan, peneliti bertanya-tanya apakah racun ini juga bisa mengatasi masalah ereksi pria, seperti halnya Viagra, Levitra dan Chialis yang beredar saat ini.

Kenia P. Nunes PhD dan rekannya mencoba mengujicobakan racun laba-laba itu pada tikus. Hasilnya, racun tersebut memang terbukti mengobati gangguan ereksi yang dialami oleh tikus yang sudah tua.

Racun laba-laba tersebut bernama PnTx2-6. Dilaporkan National Geographic, Senin (10/9/2012), racun laba-laba itu mengobati ereksi dengan memicu pelepasan nitrit oksida yang merelaksasi dinding pembuluh darah dan melancarkan peredaran darah di area penis.

Hasil riset ini dipublikasikan di Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Viagra Murah Bakal Hadir

Kompas.com - Obat kejantanan Viagra atau Sildenafil akan hadir dalam versi obat murah atau generik di Amerika Serikat dalam waktu dekat ini, menyusul segera berakhirnya masa paten obat impotensi tersebut.

Pil biru yang diproduksi oleh Pfizer itu dikabarkan akan habis masa patennya selama 20 tahun di AS pada tanggal 27 Maret mendatang. Di negara itu, harga sebutir Viagra bisa mencapai 20 dollar AS atau sekitar Rp 160.000. Setelah lepas masa paten, obat ini dapat dikopi oleh perusahaan lain, dan menurut para ahli farmasi harganya diperkirakan bisa turun hingga setengahnya.

Seperti halnya obat-obat generik lain, pil biru versi generik tentu haruslah mengandung zat aktif yang sama dengan aslinya. Dengan begitu, efektivitas obat generik ini akan sama dengan versi patennya.

"Ini adalah obat yang sama, tetapi dengan biaya yang lebih rendah sehingga harganya pun akan lebih murah," ujar Steven Tuckman, salah seorang manajer farmasi pada Montefiore Medical Center di Bronx.

Di Negeri Paman Sam, obat generik saat ini merupakan primadona dalam hal pengobatan. Menurut data IMS Health, penggunan obat generik di Amerika telah mencapai 77,5 persen dari total obat-obat resep yang beredar di pasaran. Konsumen atau pasien di AS juga tak perlu menunggu lama untuk dapat membeli suatu obat yang masa patennya baru habis. Bahkan, selang sehari setelah masa paten berakhir, obat versi generik dapat ditemukan di pasaran karena perusahaan farmasi di AS dapat mengajukan izin peredaran beberapa bulan atau bahkan beberapa tahun sebelumnya.

"Tujuan kami adalah agar obat-obat ini bisa segera hadir secepat mungkin sesuai dengan hukum," ungkap juru bicara FDA (Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan AS), Sally Walsh.

Namun, pasien sebaiknya tak langung berharap penurunan harga yang terlalu drastis. Pasalnya, perusahaan farmasi pertama yang mendapat izin membuat versi generik akan mengirim aplikasi Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) kepada FDA sebagai penanda eksklusivitas selama 180 hari untuk menjual versi generik suatu obat. Setelah lewat 180 hari, akan lebih banyak perusahaan farmasi lain yang memproduksi versi generik sehingga harga obat pun akan lebih murah.

Di Indonesia, khususnya di kota-kota besar, Sildenafil banyak dijual secara ilegal. Bahkan, obat ini disalahgunakan sebagai campuran kopi kemasan atau minuman energi. Satu hal yang paling penting untuk diketahui konsumen tentang Sildenafil adalah obat ini bukanlah obat bebas. Penggunaannya haruslah berdasarkan resep dan pengawasan ketat dari dokter karena memiliki efek samping yang berbahaya, bahkan dapat berujung pada kematian.

Begini Cara Pornografi Merusak Libido Lelaki

Kompas.com - Ini adalah peringatan buat para lelaki yang keranjingan pornografi. Studi terbaru menunjukkan, kebiasaan mengakses atau menyaksikan situs porno di usia muda ternyata bisa sangat merugikan bagi kehidupan seksual di masa dewasa.

Laporan terbaru para ahli yang tergabung dalam Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine menyatakan, banyak pria yang sudah mengakses pornografi sejak usia belia (sekitar usia 14) mengalami gangguan libido pada usia 20-an. Mereka kecanduan pornografi setiap hari sehingga mengalami penurunan gairah seksual, bahkan ada yang sampai tidak mampu ereksi.

Seperti dilaporkan kantor berita Italia ANSA, kesimpulan ini didasarkan atas hasil penelitian yang melibatkan 28.000 responden. Menurut para ahli, gangguan yang dialami pria ini dapat dikategorikan sebagai anoreksia seksual.

Di mata konselor dan psikolog Marnia Robinson, penulis buku Cupid’s Poisoned Arrow: From Habits to Harmony in Sexual Relationships, fenomena lelaki kecanduan pornografi ini bukanlah hal baru.

Menurutnya, tak sedikit pria saat ini mengalami masalah libido karena sudah terjebak dalam pornografi. Robinson, yang beserta suaminya Gary Wilson membuat situs www.yourbrainonporn.com, menyatakan, fenomena ini dapat dilihat dari ratusan thread diskusi dalam situs tersebut di mana pengakses dari 25 negara mengakui mengalami masalah dan gejala gangguan seksual ini.

"Banyak anak muda sekarang tumbuh berkembang bersama akses pornografi internet kecepatan tinggi. Survei (di Italia) ini cocok dengan apa yang kami pantau selama bertahun-tahun bahwa para lelaki ini mengalami gejala kecanduan," kata Robinson. 

Fakta ini, menurut American Society of Addiction Medicine, telah menempatkan pornografi menjadi sebagai salah satu bentuk pemicu adiksi yang perlu ditangani. Dalam definisi yang dirilis pada April lalu disebutkan, perilaku apa pun yang sifatnya memberikan imbalan atau penghargaan dan tidak sebatas barang dapat menimbulkan adiksi atau kecanduan, termasuk di antaranya "aktivitas seksual".

"Inilah apa yang kita sebut dengan proses adiksi," ungkap David Smith, MD, mantan Presiden American Society of Addiction Medicine dan penulis buku Unchain Your Brain.

"Bukti menunjukkan, Anda bisa menjadi kecanduan terhadap dopamin. Perilaku seperti pornografi, makan atau berjudi melepaskan hormon dopamin dan semua ini dapat memicu adiksi. Itulah sebabnya kami memasukkannya dalam definisi baru," jelas Smith.

Menurut Wilson, internet akan membuat akses terhadap pornografi menjadi sangat mudah sehingga memudahkan otak terhubung dengan sejenis stimulus visual. Pornografi jenis baru ini akan mempercepat pengeluaran hormon dopamin, tetapi juga dapat menyebabkan seseorang ketergantungan dan tak bisa mencapai kepuasan.

"Oleh karenanya, ketika mereka berada di tempat tidur bersama pasangan dengan kondisi lampu gelap, mereka tidak akan mendapatkan stimulus visual yang mereka butuhkan sehingga tidak bisa melakukannya," ujar Robinson.

Meski demikian, gangguan seksual ini masih dapat diatasi melalui terapi. Menurut Robinson, waktu untuk menyembuhkan anoreksia sekual pada setiap individu bervariasi.

"Untuk lelaki dewasa perlu waktu sekitar 8 pekan untuk terapi penyembuhan. Tetapi untuk lelaku muda, di usia 20-an yang kecanduan pornografi perlu waktu 3 hingga 4 bulan karena  mereka tidak terhubungan dengan pasangan dan sentuhan nyata sewaktu muda," ujarnya.

Ini Dia, Viagra dari Racun Laba-laba

Kompas.com - Siapa pun tentu akan takut bila seekor laba-laba tiba-tiba menghampiri tempat tidur Anda. Namun, di masa mendatang, laba-laba bisa jadi penolong Anda, khususnya para pria, untuk tetap "beringas" memuaskan pasangan di atas ranjang.

Ya, menurut suatu penelitian yang dipublikasikan Journal of Sexual Medicine, sengatan laba-laba ternyata berpotensi membuat pria tetap "ereksi" selama berjam-jam.  Kini, para ilmuwan tengah berupaya menciptakan obat bagi pria yang mengalami problem disfungsi ereksi.

Laba-laba yang digunakan para ilmuwan tersebut adalah laba-laba dari Brasil dari spesies Phoneutria nigriventer atau juga dikenal sebagai laba-laba tentara, laba-laba pisang.

"Racun dari Phoneutria nigriventer sangatlah kaya akan beragam campuran molekul. Molekul ini disebut toksin, dan kami sudah meneliti beragam toksin dalam racun ini  dengan beragam aktivitas. Oleh karena itu pula, ketika manusia digigit laba-laba, kami dapat meneliti bermacam gejala termasuk priapism, sebuah kondisi di mana penis bisa terus-menerus ereksi," kata Dr Kania Nunes, fisiolog dari Medical College of Georgia.

Efek samping lain yang dapat muncul adalah kehilangan kendali otot, rasa sakit yang sangat, kesulitan bernapas. Jika korban tidak segera ditolong dengan antiracun, mereka bisa meninggal akibat kekurangan oksigen.

"Tetapi, efek-efek yang tidak biasa juga dapat digunakan untuk mengatasi disfungsi seksual baik pada pria maupun wanita," kata Nunes.

Dalam risetnya, Nunes berhasil memisahkan senyawa penyebab ereksi dari racun. Toksin peptida yang disebut  PnTx2-6 itu kemudian diberikan kepada tikus di laboratorium.  Hewan pengerat ini sebelumnya telah dikondisikan mengalami hipertensi atau tekanan darah tinggi. Pemberian "viagra baru" ini membuat tikus ternyata dapat membuat tikus ereksi dengan normal.

Menurut Nunes, setelah menyelidiki racun lebih lanjut, ia dan timnya mendapati cara kerja racun  laba-laba dalam membuat ereksi berbeda dengan cara kerja obat disfungsi ereksi yang saat ini sudah ada.

"Boleh dibilang kabar baik karena beberapa pasien tidak berhasil ditangani dengan terapi yang ada sekarang. Racun ini bisa menjadi pilihan lain untuk mereka," kata Nunes.

Laba-laba P nigriventer biasa didapati di dekat tanaman pisang di daerah tropis. Laba-laba, yang kakinya bisa memanjang hingga 10 hingga 12 sentimeter ini, sering  berkeluyuran dan menggigit ketika merasa terancam.

Tidak banyak kematian terlaporkan akibat gigitan laba-laba ini. Dari sekitar 7.000 kasus, hanya 10 yang diketahui meninggal.

The Future of Sex Medicine

Foxnews.com - Sooner or later every guy deals with some type of mechanical “male-function,” such as premature ejaculation (PE) or erectile dysfunction (ED). Being quick on the trigger might work great in Westerns, but it’s not such a benefit in between the sheets.

Likewise, the laws of physics are a little skewed in the bedroom, where what should go up doesn’t always stay up.

All this week at Good in Bed, we’re talking about male sexual health.

If you’re dealing with PE or ED, you’re not alone. They’re two of the most common male sexual health issues. Despite their frequency, though, these conditions remain undertreated. While some men with ED have found temporary help through drugs like Viagra, Levitra and Cialis, it’s estimated that more than half of them won’t continue using the drug for very long.

Meanwhile, there’s been little to no help for men with PE. As I discuss in my new book, Overcoming Premature Ejaculation, we’re just starting to understand that PE is less of a psychological issue than a physiological one.

Fortunately, new research is leading to new potential treatments for both conditions. For ED, approaches on the horizon include:

• Dopamine boosters. This class of medications, including a drug called apomorphine (Uprima), appears to raise levels of the brain chemical dopamine, which increases sexual interest and sensations. Uprima is currently available in Europe, but not the United States.

• Melanocortin inhibitors. Early studies suggest that this class of drugs may trigger erections in men with psychological causes of ED.

• Topiglan. This topical form of aprostidal (the same drug found in penile injections and suppositories) is being studied for ED, and so far appears safe and effective.

As for PE, there are two interesting treatments on the near horizon:

• Dapoxetine (Priligy). Just as Viagra helps treat ED, a pill is in the works for PE. Dapoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, a type of medication usually used to treat depression by boosting levels of the brain chemical serotonin, which are also typically lower in guys with PE. SSRIs like Prozac and Zoloft are already prescribed “off label” to treat PE, but dapoxetine is being tested and marketed specifically as a treatment for PE.

Unlike other SSRIs, dapoxetine is short-acting, so you only take it “on demand” an hour or so before sex, similarly to Viagra. Studies suggest that dapoxetine can delay orgasm and increase Intravaginal Ejaculatory Latency Time (IELT), which measures how long a man can have intercourse before he ejaculates. Dapoxetine has also been shown to reduce distress and relationship difficulties associated with PE. Despite such benefits, dapoxetine isn’t yet available in the United States. The drug, which is made by Johnson & Johnson, is sold in nine other countries under the brand name Priligy.

• PSD502. Also known as TEMPE spray, this topical treatment contains an aerosol version of lidocaine and prilocaine, two numbing agents. Studies suggest that, when sprayed on the penis, PSD502 appears to significantly increase IELT and improve ejaculatory control and sexual satisfaction, with minimal side effects. Like dapoxetine, PSD502 isn’t currently available in the U.S., although its manufacturer plans to submit it for FDA approval soon.

Although these future treatments are exciting, it’s important to remember that both PE and ED are best treated with a combination of measures, including counseling, behavioral changes, and sexual approaches. Medications are just one more important weapon in our arsenal against these issues.

Sex Pills to Stop Premature Ejaculation for Guys on Sale in UK

The drug, taken one to three hours before sex, works by altering seratonin levels in the brain, which helps a man to have more control over his moment of climax.

Priligy has been shown to make men last three times as long.

However, it is expensive - at 76 pounds for a pack of three Priligy 30mg tablets.

Priligy, which is available for men aged 18 to 64, is already in the markets of some European countries. It will be sold exclusively online, for private prescriptions only.

The drug can’t be used after boozing as this increases the risk of side effects.

Men will be able to get a private prescription for Priligy following an online consultation at Lloyds-pharmacy.com.

"Priligy has the potential to do as much for men’s sexual health as Viagra,” the Sun quoted Nitin Makadia, head of male sexual health at Lloyds-pharmacy, as saying.

"It will give sufferers a chance to improve the quality of their relationships and their general wellbeing. It has been well received by men elsewhere in Europe and we are really pleased to be bringing this treatment to the UK.

Some men are understandably reluctant to discuss the problem with their GP so we are removing this barrier to treatment," Makadia added.

Eat Watermelon (Same Results as Viagra, No Side Effects)

According to a new study carried out at the College Station's Texas A&M Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center, the watermelon could soon take Viagra producing companies out of business since it contains chemicals that have effects similar to those of the blue pill, thus increases libido.

"The more we study watermelons, the more we realize just how amazing a fruit it is in providing natural enhancers to the human body. We've always known that watermelon is good for you, but the list of its very important healthful benefits grows longer with each study," said Dr. Bhimu Patil, the leader of the study.

Watermelons are part of a great variety of fruit and vegetables containing so-called bioactive compounds, also known as phyto-nutrients, able to determine healthy body responses. Lycopene, beta carotene and citrulline are only few of the well known compounds found in watermelons and are catalogued as bioactive chemicals. Citrulline for example, is able to relax blood vessels, which is exactly what Viagra does.

As citrulline is metabolized it is transformed into arginine, an amino acid that helps improve the health of the circulatory system and that of the immune system. Better still, the consumption of watermelons has no side effects, although it has the disadvantage of not being as target specific as Viagra.

"The citrulline-arginine relationship helps heart health, the immune system and may prove to be very helpful for those who suffer from obesity and type 2 diabetes. Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it," Patil added.

Additionally, arginine improves the removal of ammonia and a whole range of other toxic chemicals from the system, thus helping the urea cycle of the body. The only problem is that citrulline is not commonly found in the fleshy parts of the watermelon, therefore it doesn't usually enter the digestive system.

Certain species of watermelon, the study found, also have larger concentrations of lycopene than tomatoes.

"Lycopene, which is also found in red grapefruit, was historically thought to exist only in tomatoes. But now we know that it's found in higher concentrations in red watermelon varieties. Previous tests have shown that lycopene is much better absorbed from tomatoes when mixed in a salad with oily vegetables like avocado or spinach. That would also apply to the lycopene from watermelon, but I realize mixing watermelon with spinach or avocadoes is a very hard sell," Patil said.

Lycopene is an anti-oxidant with beneficial effects on the heart, prostate and skin, and requires certain fats in order to be better absorbed into the body. Since tomatoes are generally eaten in salads or oily mixes, it's not hard to understand why the compound is better absorbed from them.

"One final bit of advice for those Fourth of July watermelons you buy. They store much better uncut if you leave them at room temperature. Lycopene levels can be maintained even as it sits on your kitchen floor. But once you cut it, refrigerate. And enjoy," he said.

Shocking Treatment Helps Erectile Dysfunction

If you experience impotence, instead of a little blue pill maybe you want to apply shockwaves to your privates instead.

Experiments now suggest directing shockwaves at penises can help treat erectile dysfunction.

"We can really reverse erectile problems with this," researcher Yoram Vardi, head of the neuro-urology department at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel, told LiveScience.

"While patients with erectile dysfunction can function with Viagra or Cialis, this is not a cure — when they stop the medication, they cannot function," he added. "This is only a preliminary study, but here with shockwaves, we can do something biological for the problem — after treatments, these patients can function without the need for medication."

In animal studies, low-intensity shockwaves have been proven to trigger growth of new blood vessels from existing ones. Vardi and his colleagues therefore speculated that shockwave therapy could help men whose erectile dysfunction stems from reduced blood flow to their penises.

"Cardiovascular problems are responsible for approximately 80 percent of patients with erectile dysfunction, so that's a huge amount of patients," Vardi explained.

Volunteers shocked

The researchers treated 20 volunteers with an average age of 56 years old who had mild or moderate erectile dysfunction for roughly three years.

At each session, a device that resembles a computer mouse applied shockwaves at five different sites on their penises.

"These are very, very low energy shock waves," Vardi said. Each shockwave applied roughly 100 bar of pressure — some 20 times the air pressure in a bottle of champagne, but less than the pressure exerted by a woman in stiletto heels who weighs 132 lbs. (60 kg).

"This sort of energy is completely different from what you would get in a massage, although everyone can do what they want," Vardi said.

Each site on the penis received some 300 shockwaves over the course of three minutes. The men underwent two weekly sessions for three weeks, and then repeated this course of therapy after three weeks of rest.

Significant improvement was seen in 15 of 20 men. "We didn't find any side effects, and it didn't hurt," Vardi noted.

Even if further studies bear out these results, this is not a cure for everyone, Vardi cautioned. The researchers chose men whose problems were apparently due to blood flow, as opposed to nerve, muscle or other issues.

Expanding tests

The researchers are now expanding their research with placebo groups and more patients.

"This is only the beginning — we need to understand much better what is happening," Vardi said. "We also want to see how long this response will stand — is it forever, one year, two years, six months? We know that at three months, it stays the same."

Vardi and his colleagues detailed their findings November 17 at the European Society for Sexual Medicine meeting in Lyon, France.