PRP Improves Erectile Function: New Study Review

A recent clinical study evaluated the safety and efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in 60 sexually-active men with mild and moderate erectile dysfunction (ED). The results showed that patients treated with PRP had a greater improvement in erectile function than those treated with saline.

The Potential Role of PRP in the Management of Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is a common problem that affects as many as 30 million men. It is a complex, multidimensional disorder that results from:

• Reduced blood flow to the penis
• Narrowing of the arteries
• Inability of the smooth muscle cells lining the arterioles to relax, preventing dilation

Most treatments for ED only focus on enhancing the blood flow to the penis without addressing the other contributing factors.

Interest in regenerative medicine has flourished in recent years, and PRP has emerged as a promising treatment for ED. Results from animal studies suggest that PRP injections may improve key elements of the processes that lead to ED through anti-inflammatory, reparative, neuroprotective, and neurotrophic effects.

However, widespread adoption of PRP for ED management has been slow due to the lack of high-quality human clinical trials.

Intracavernosal PRP Injections Improve Erectile Function

The present study is the first double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial exploring the safety and efficacy of PRP injections in patients with non-severe ED.

To qualify for the trial, participants had to be sexually active 40- to 70-year-old males with mild and moderate ED. Other inclusion criteria were as follows:

• Use of any phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5i) a month prior to screening
• Presence of mild or moderate ED after washout from PDE5i or any other ED treatment, documented with a score of 11 to 25 in the International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Function (IIEF-EF) domain
• Agreement to stop all ED treatments during the study
• Agreement to attempt sexual intercourse at least 4 times every month during the study without being under the influence of alcohol or recreational drugs. The outcome was to be documented using the Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP) diaries.

After the 1-month initial screening and evaluation period, the subjects were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either the PRP or the saline solution group. Both groups received their intracavernosal injections across two sessions, with the second injection one month after the first. All injections were concealed by tinfoil to ensure the study was double-blinded.

The investigators evaluated each patient 1, 3, and 6 months after completing the treatment protocol. At each follow-up visit, the patients were asked to return their completed SEP diaries for the last month and to fill out the IIEF-EF. The treatment was considered successful if the patient attained the minimally clinical important difference (MCID) on the IIEF-EF, defined as an improvement of:

• 2 or more points in patients with mild or mild to moderate ED (IIEF-EF score 17 to 25) after treatment
• 5 or more points in patients with moderate ED (IIEF-EF score 11-16) after treatment

At each follow-up visit, at least 69% of patients (20 of 29) in the PRP group attained an MCID, compared to 39% (10 of 26) or less in the placebo group. These results show a statistically significant advantage of PRP over saline in improving erectile function.

The patients in the PRP group also reported more satisfaction with their treatment and outcomes than the patients in the placebo group.

A Promising Solution for Erectile Dysfunction

PRP is a promising addition to the management of erectile dysfunction. It is safe, cost-effective, and may actually regenerate damaged cells and blood vessels necessary for erectile function.

Looking to add PRP to your toolbox? Our patented design ensures consistent, high-quality PRP every time — without the need for advanced preparation. Check out our PRP kits and PRP centrifuges here.

Call us today at 844-377-7787 (DR- PRP-US) to see how Dr. PRP can help your patients