Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy
Widely marketed. Not yet proven. Here is what we actually know.
Platelet-rich plasma prepared from your own blood is injected into the erectile tissue in the hope of stimulating repair. The concept is plausible; the human evidence is thin.
- Session length
- 45–60 minutes
- Course
- Typically 2–3 sessions
- Source material
- Your own blood
- Evidence status
- Investigational
01Overview
We offer PRP, and we lead the conversation about it with its limitations. That order matters.
The premise is reasonable. Platelets carry a dense payload of growth factors, and concentrating them into damaged tissue is an established idea in orthopedics and wound care. Applying it to erectile tissue is a logical extension. Logical extensions, however, are not the same as demonstrated results.
What exists in the literature is a handful of small randomized and observational studies, some showing modest improvement in IIEF scores in men with mild to moderate ED, others showing effects that do not separate convincingly from placebo. Preparation protocols differ between clinics — spin speed, platelet concentration, activation method — so results are difficult to compare and difficult to reproduce.
Our position: PRP is reasonable to consider as an adjunct for a man with mild to moderate vascular ED who understands he is choosing an unproven therapy, has realistic expectations, and is not deferring an effective treatment to pursue it. It is not a reasonable first choice, and it is not a substitute for the options above.
02How it works
The mechanism, without the hand-waving.
- 01
Autologous blood draw
Roughly 30 to 60 millilitres of your own blood is drawn at the start of the appointment.
- 02
Centrifugation
The sample is spun to separate the platelet-rich fraction from red cells and platelet-poor plasma.
- 03
Growth factor release
Concentrated platelets release PDGF, TGF-β, VEGF and other signaling proteins involved in tissue repair and vessel formation.
- 04
Targeted injection
The concentrate is injected into the corpora cavernosa under topical anesthetic, with the intent of local tissue and vascular repair.
03Candidacy
Who this is for — and who it is not.
Likely a good candidate
- Men with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction who have realistic expectations
- Men seeking an adjunct to acoustic wave therapy rather than a replacement for proven treatment
- Men who explicitly understand and accept that this therapy is investigational
- Men with early Peyronie's disease, where it is sometimes used off-label as an adjunct
Cautions & contraindications
- Not appropriate for men with platelet disorders, active infection, or an ongoing malignancy
- Not appropriate for men on anticoagulation without hematology input
- Not a substitute for evidence-based first- and second-line therapy
- Should never be sold as a cure, and we will not present it as one
04 — Our protocol
What actually happens, step by step.
- 01
An honest expectation-setting conversation
Before anything else, your physician walks you through exactly what the evidence does and does not support. Some men decline at this point, and that is a perfectly good outcome.
- 02
Draw and preparation
Blood is drawn and processed on site in a closed system. Nothing is stored, and nothing from another donor is ever used.
- 03
Injection under topical anesthetic
A dental-block-strength topical anesthetic is applied first. The injection itself takes only a few minutes.
- 04
Structured reassessment
We re-score you at three months against your documented baseline. If there is no measurable benefit, we say so and stop — we do not sell open-ended courses.
05Risks & side effects
The part other clinics put in a footnote.
You cannot consent to something you have not been told about. Your physician will go through all of this with you again in person, and answer every question you have about it.
- Bruising, swelling, and tenderness for several days
- Small risk of infection at the injection site
- Because the material is your own blood, allergic reaction is essentially not a concern
- The principal risk is financial and temporal: paying for a therapy that may not work, or delaying one that would
Why offer it at all if it is unproven?
Because for a specific, informed patient it is a defensible choice, and because men who want it will otherwise get it somewhere that does not explain the evidence. We would rather they receive it in a sterile clinical setting from a physician who told them the truth first.
Does insurance cover it?
No. As an investigational treatment it is not covered by any carrier we work with, and we quote it as a self-pay procedure with the price stated up front.
Is the branded 'P-Shot' different from what you do?
The branded procedure is a trademarked protocol, not a distinct drug. The underlying material is autologous PRP in both cases. Branding does not add clinical evidence.
Important
The information on this website is provided for general education and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Erectile dysfunction can be the first sign of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or hormonal disorders. Always consult a licensed physician about your individual circumstances, and never start, stop, or change a prescription based on what you read here.
Next step
Find out whether prp therapy is right for you.
Candidacy for every treatment on this site is decided by assessment, not by a questionnaire. Start with the consultation and let the findings choose.