Research Finds Botox Can Help With Erectile Dysfunction

We know neurotoxin injections can correct a myriad of concerns outside of wrinkle-relaxing, but the latest may be the most surprising. Researchers who’ve been studying the injectable’s effectiveness in treating erectile dysfunction and a new study in the Journal of Urology have found that the drug has shown to help men with erectile dysfunction by temporarily strengthening their erections for a three-month period.

Researchers analyzed seven studies conducted over the course of 31 years—from January 1990 to July 2021—and learned that for the first three months of a six-month period participants saw a clear benefit. The trials consisted of a total of 362 men who either had Botox or a placebo injected into the base of their penis. The way the treatment is said to work is by temporarily relaxing the smooth muscle in the walls of the blood vessels carrying blood to the penis which in turn increases blood flow.

Of those treated, half saw positive results in one study. In a second study, 40 percent of participants who were classified as impotent saw an improvement. While the outcomes of these studies are promising, the researchers found the poll of patients was too small and more research is needed before it becomes a widely adopted mainstream treatment for ED.