By Sheila Mohammed, MD, PhD

More than 50 million women in the United States ranging from young female athletes to post-menopausal women, are bothered by urinary incontinence, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, and scarring and thickening of the vaginal folds.  Treatments offered in conventional medicine include vaginal estrogen, topical testosterone, or psychotherapy which are seldom helpful.

Likewise, more than 30 million men in the United States have erectile dysfunction (ED) or an inability to sustain an erection to have intercourse.  Medications and penile prostheses are offered to men and have helped somewhat. While ED statistics increase with age, this common condition does not have to be part of the aging process.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a revolutionary rejuvenating treatment that addresses all of these concerns.  More than seven growth factors from blood plasma are used in women to alleviate stress incontinence, dryness and sexual dysfunction (such as difficulty reaching orgasm, painful intercourse and low sexual desire).  PRP is in the category of regenerative autologous treatments, which means it comes from your own blood and can stimulate cellular regeneration and tissue repair. Platelets are one of the cells in our blood and when activated, they can release growth factors and other proteins.

When platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is injected, the stem cells multiply and grow new younger tissues.  PRP regenerates vaginal tissues and penile tissues the same way is rebuilds cartilage in the knee and younger looking tissues in the face.  The growth factors and proteins released by high concentrations of platelets in PRP, activate stems cells and stimulate cellular repair and regeneration wherever they are applied in the body. In addition, collagen production and the formation of new blood vessels occur that further aids in tissue repair.  PRP treatments are non-surgical and drug free.  Up to 95% of patients experience resolution of urinary incontinence.  In women, mesh pain can improve, the vaginal skin becomes tighter, there is relief from painful intercourse, and women enjoy a healthier sexual response.

Men’s Health play a large role in intimate relationships.  Difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection and/or concerns about penile size, shape and curvature, with or without pain, can affect one’s self-esteem and create significant stress among partners.

The body has a remarkable capacity to heal itself.  Regeneration of new tissues is accomplished by the natural production of stem cells.  PRP involves concentrated platelets, rich in bioactive proteins, which release growth factors to stimulate cellular regeneration and accelerate tissue repair. The benefits of PRP were initially used in wound healing, dentistry and the treatment of sports injuries, but now have evolved to address aesthetic concerns and sexual dysfunction (erectile dysfunction and Peyronie’s Disease for men). PRP is one of the most advanced, effective natural treatments for cellular repair and rejuvenation throughout the body.

Benefits of PRP treatments for men include stronger and firmer erections, it becomes easier to achieve and maintain erections, penile length and girth are increased, there is improvement in penile curvature from Peyronie’s Disease, or complete resolution of same, there is also increased sensitivity and better overall blood flow to the penis.

The procedure involves applying a potent topical numbing cream and a local anesthetic to the genitalia.  Blood is drawn and both blood stem cells and platelet rich plasma are extracted using a special centrifuge machine.  After the tissues are numb, a very fine needle is used to place the PRP in certain spots on the genitalia. The process is tolerable and patients report feeling little to no discomfort or pain.  PRP has been used effectively for a variety of treatments for more than 20 years. Over half a million procedures involving the injection of PRP into various parts of the body have been performed with no significant side effects, or complications reported.

Written by – Sheila Mohammed, MD, PhD Please call 850-281-8186 for a consultation.

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