PRP for Sexual Health
Issues related to sexual health are common complaints in the doctor's office. Aging brings about normal and predictable changes in the body. As men get older, changes in the prostate and in testosterone levels can lead to erectile dysfunction. As women get older, estrogen levels decrease which may lead to vaginal dryness and slower arousal. Certain health conditions and medications can also affect sexual health and enjoyment.
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Standard treatments for these sexual issues involve lifestyle modifications such as exercise, a nutrient-dense diet, and good communication with your partner. Hormone therapy and medications are also commonly used to treat these issues.
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Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, may also be useful in treating issues of sexual health, particularly in patients who have failed other types of treatments.
How does it work?
The normal aging process can have a profound impact on our sexual health. Certain medical conditions can also influence sexual health. Tissues become thinner and more fragile, leading to discomfort. Blood flow may be altered by a variety of factors.
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By injecting vaginal and penile tissue with platelet-rich plasma, up to 35 types of growth factors are delivered directly into the tissue. These growth factors play a fundamental role in cell regeneration and tissue healing. It's believed that PRP assists in the regeneration of tissues and also improves blood supply. This, in turn, may alleviate a variety of sexual health concerns.
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PRP stimulates the body's own natural healing response by separating platelets from other blood components and concentrating them. This specially prepared platelet-rich plasma contains 5 to 10 times the concentration of platelets found in whole blood. The concentrated PRP is then delivered into and around the site of injury via injection, stimulating and significantly strengthening the body's healing response.
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Since PRP is an autologous therapy, using the patient's own blood product, there is no risk of cross reactivity or immune reaction.
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Studies have shown that PRP is a safe, supplemental therapy for erectile dysfunction. A 2019 analysis of the research found that PRP therapy has the potential for treating male sexual dysfunction. The research also clearly shows a lack of adverse reactions with PRP.
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PRP is thought to be effective for many female sexual health conditions as well. These include cervical ectopy, preventing wound breakdown after reconstructive surgery for vulvar cancer, and in ovarian rejuvenation for women with poor ovarian reserve.
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One small study found that intravaginal and intraclitoral PRP injections could be an effective method to treat certain types of female sexual dysfunction, especially in the areas of desire, arousal, lubrication, and orgasm.
