How Can Stem Cell Therapy Improve Sexual Health?

According to the Journal of Sexual Medicine, one in four men under the age of 40 is now undergoing treatment for erectile dysfunction, and a report from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases estimates that 15 to 25 percent of men over the age of 65 experience erectile dysfunction.

Many prescription pharmaceuticals treat erectile dysfunction, but none of these treatments is natural, nor are they considered anything more than a temporary fix. Pharmaceuticals also frequently come with side effects, which can include blurry or blue vision, back pain, nasal congestion, headaches and dizziness.  Furthermore, many pharmaceuticals designed to treat erectile dysfunction interact negatively with other medications, and should be avoided by men with diabetes, heart disease, liver and kidney problems, and those who have suffered a stroke. With all these potential red flags, men with erectile dysfunction (or ED) may be left feeling that the cure is worse than the problem.

But there is hope for men with ED. Stem cell therapy combined with low-intensity shockwave therapy has been found to encourage the growth of new blood vessels in the penis, which can not only improve symptoms of ED, but also increase erectile size, strength and sensitivity, too. It works because erectile dysfunction is caused by constricted blood vessels in the penis. This causes a buildup of a substance called "micro-plaque," which restricts the blood flow to the penis and causes the erectile dysfunction.

At Bios Functional Medicine, we treat erectile dysfunction in two ways. The first is low-intensity shockwave therapy, which helps to open up constricted blood vessels to improve blood circulation. Low-intensity shockwaves are acoustic waves of energy that travel below the skin, targeting a specific area. This in turn causes an effect known as a "micro trauma" to the tissue. That micro trauma spurs a healing response to the affected area, increasing blood flow. Though it may sound scary, low-intensity shockwave therapy is nearly painless and requires no anesthesia.

The second step to treating erectile dysfunction is using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. PRP comprises platelet-rich plasma protein, which is removed from the patient’s blood. Once drawn, it is then centrifuged to remove the red blood cells. Platelet-rich plasma is used to treat ED because it contains cytokines that have been found to stimulate the healing of soft tissue and joints. Following low-intensity shockwave therapy, PRP not only helps to encourage blood flow to the newly treated blood vessels, but also helps to stimulate the growth of new blood vessels and heal damaged vessels. Following this procedure, many patients report increased erectile strength, size and sensitivity.

If you are interested in learning more about treating erectile dysfunction with stem cell therapy, give Dr. Lekkos a call at 310-955-1885.

Tags: ED, erectile dysfunction, PRP, low intensity shockwave, platelet rich plasma