Botox might help beat erectile dysfunction, study suggests

It might be known for ironing out wrinkles.

But scientists say Botox might also smooth out erectile difficulties in men.

Injecting impotent men straight into their penis relaxes the organ, allowing blood to rush into it. 

Belgian urologists said the treatment showed ‘clear benefit’, although further studies are needed.

The jab only appeared to work for three months.

Around half of all men suffer with some form of erectile dysfunction at some point in their lifetime.

NHS doctors aren’t currently allowed to give impotent men Botox, despite studies suggesting it helps.

Instead, they are usually given drugs to lower blood pressure or statins because difficulties tend to be brought on by circulatory problems. 

Viagra can be bought from pharmacies without a prescription, while Cialis, Levitra and Spedra require a doctor’s approval. 

Botox is also not approved in the US, although it is offered at some private clinics.

Fresh research, published in the journal Urology, reviewed seven studies on Botox and erectile dysfunction.

The studies, involving 362 men, dated back to the 1990s and included human and animal data.

The review did not specify whether all the men even had erectile dysfunction or how severe their cases were.

Either Botox or a placebo was injected into the base of their penises.

Effectiveness was measured using the erection hardness scale. 

It quantifies erection strength on a four-point scale, ranging from zero (penis does not enlarge) to four (penis is completely hard and fully rigid). 

They also measured blood flow into the penis with an ultrasound and surveyed men to determine the extent of their erectile dysfunction before and after treatment.

One study showed around half of those given Botox responded positively on all three counts up to three months later.

But the effects had worn off after six months.

Another showed 40 per cent of impotent men given an injection were able to have sex three months after the treatment. 

The team, led by Dr Rawad Abou Zahr, a urologist at Université Libre de Bruxelles, said all the studies showed Botox helped improve erection problems.

Writing in the journal, they said:  ‘As for the duration of benefit from the BoNT-A injections, the above studies described a clear benefit within the first three months of treatment. 

‘This benefit seems to regress reaching the six months period. This sheds the light on the importance of maintenance regimens in such patients.’

But they said the small sample size meant further studies are needed and Botox should not be dished out for ED until clinical trials have finished.

Botox is thought to improve erections by temporarily relaxing the smooth muscle in the walls of blood vessels in the penis.

It blocks nerve signals that usually constrict these muscles, meaning more blood is able to enter the organ.