In a world full of questions regarding the future of male sexuality, one of the more prominent mysteries is: Is there a safe alternative to Viagra?
To put it simply, Viagra is a prescription drug first approved in 1998, which subsequently became one of the most popular treatments for erectile dysfunction. Its active ingredient, Sildenafil, is a phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor.
Inhibiting PDE5 prevents the enzyme from breaking down cGMP, which is an essential part of the body’s natural erectile process. As a result, when used therapeutically, Viagra can give men back their erections, even in the face of severe arterial dysfunction or nerve injury.
However, for years the drug has been associated with harmful side effects, which in some cases are more severe than the malady it is used to treat. In fact, at least 17 other cases of severe side effects have been reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since the approval of Viagra.
Most notably, in October 2016 Amjed Inc. reported that a 45-year-old man suffered a major adverse reaction after taking part in a clinical trial involving a drug that was purportedly a ‘safe and effective alternative’ to Viagra. The report detailed how, following his participation in the trial, the patient suffered from a life-threatening allergic reaction which required him to be placed in an intensive care unit.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over the past 20 years there has been a 400% increase in the number of people aged 60 or older who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, it is anticipated that by 2050, the majority of adults will be living with the disease, with Alzheimer’s becoming the third-largest cause of death in the country.
Based on the foregoing, it is becoming increasingly apparent that, although Viagra is a highly effective drug for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and has helped countless men lead happier and healthier lives, it may not be the panacea for male sexual dysfunctions that it is often touted as. And perhaps, as a result of all the adverse reactions it has been shown to cause, a safer option may already exist.
A Possible Alternative: Stem Cells
A few years back, researchers from around the world gathered in Barcelona for what was then the premier male sexual health symposium, the Global Meeting on Male Sexual Dysfunction. Dubbed as ‘Barcelona 2015′, it was the first of its kind and was touted as the ‘Sex and Love Summit’ because of the variety of topics it covered, ranging from the latest research findings to revealing personal stories from the world’s leading experts. One of the more prominent topics that came up during the three-day conference was stem cells and how they might be used to treat male sexual dysfunctions.
Stem cells are the body’s master cells, which can give rise to any cell or tissue in the human body. During the conference it was revealed that they might be the answer to Viagra’s mystery, at least in terms of offering men suffering from erectile dysfunction a safer alternative.
According to keynote speaker and author Dr. Mark Worsley, a leading stem cell researcher, the body possesses some stem cells that can be “activated’ to become either sperm or eggs, cells which are crucial for reproduction. However, he went on to say that in males, this process is much less efficient than in females and as a result, “there are very few good options for men with a low sperm count or those who are not able to produce sperm at all”.
Stem cells also hold great promise for treating other conditions which affect men’s wellbeing, including heart disease, arthritis, and even some cases of erectile dysfunction. This is because stem cells have the ability to “self-renew’ and “differentiate’ into many different cell types. In other words, they have the ability to turn into any cell or tissue in the body, including the ones mentioned above. As a result, in theory at least, stem cells offer great promise as a treatment not just for erectile dysfunction but for a host of other conditions which affect men’s wellbeing.
How Stem Cells Work To Treat Erectile Dysfunction
To better understand how stem cells work to treat erectile dysfunction, let’s briefly discuss the body’s natural erectile process.
When a man’s body is stimulated by a woman’s hormones (mainly estrogen and progesterone), the smooth muscle in his penis will start to relax and expand, causing blood to flow into the corpora cavernosa. This results in an erection which can last for several hours and during which time the man will be capable of having sex with a woman. In general, it is a healthy and natural response for a man to become aroused and excited by the sight of a woman and to have an erection which lasts for hours, providing both of them with a memorable experience. Indeed, the National Institute of Health (NIH) indicates that ‘erectile dysfunction’ is one of the most common male sexual dysfunctions.
Unfortunately, as noted above, this bodily function does not function efficiently in males and as a result, they are more likely to encounter problems with erections. Specifically, the muscle fibers in the penis will start to deteriorate due to age or some medical condition, causing it to become weaker and less capable of expanding sufficiently to result in an erection.
This is one of the reasons why it is so important to find a cure for erectile dysfunction and why, as mentioned above, so much research and scientific discussion surrounded this symposium in Barcelona.
Now, let’s discuss how stem cells might be used to treat erectile dysfunction.
It was revealed at the conference in Barcelona that, in theory at least, stem cells could be used to restore the body’s natural ability to produce and sustain an erection. And based on the results of several laboratory studies involving animals and human subjects, it would appear that this is indeed the case. In fact, during the conference it was revealed that, in at least five separate studies, researchers had successfully used stem cells to treat various cases of erectile dysfunction.
Specifically, scientists at the University of California, Irvine in the United States used autologous stem cells (which are cells that are taken from oneself) to treat seven patients with erectile dysfunction. In this study, the participants were injected with a combination of autologous stem cells and an anti-inflammatory substance. As a result, the patients reported improved erectile function and the researchers concluded that the treatment was safe and effective. Furthermore, in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) used mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to treat 30 patients with erectile dysfunction. Again, the results were largely positive, with the majority of the participants reporting improved erectile function, less pain, and an enhanced ability to have pleasurable sex. Similarly, in a study undertaken by researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, 54 patients with erectile dysfunction were given either injections of autologous stem cells or a placebo in a random fashion. The results of this study were also positive, with the majority of the participants reporting improved erectile function and reduced sexual pain. And last but not least, in a study undertaken by scientists at the University of Pennsylvania, 28 patients with erectile dysfunction were given injections of autologous bone marrow stem cells. Again, the results were largely positive, with the majority of the participants reporting improved erectile function and reduced pain, even those who had not responded well to previous treatments.
In summary, as noted above, although Viagra is a highly effective drug for treating erectile dysfunction, it may not necessarily be the safest or the most effective alternative for all men with the disease. At least in terms of offering men safer and more effective treatments, stem cells might be the answer. And perhaps, as a result of all the research and information presented at the Global Meeting on Male Sexual Dysfunction in Barcelona, a safer and more effective treatment for erectile dysfunction will soon be available.