FRIDAY, Sept. 25 (HealthDay News) — Scientists may have discovered a novel way to treat erectile dysfunction — using the venom of a deadly spider.
The bite from the Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria nigriventer) causes a painful erection that can last for many hours and later lead to impotence, researchers from the United States and Brazil noted. Read More
FRIDAY, Sept. 18 (HealthDay News) — A topical cream for erectile dysfunction shows promise in animal testing and could become an alternative for men who can’t tolerate the pill form of the drugs, U.S. researchers report.
Oral erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs, which belong to a class of medications called phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, are widely used and highly effective but can cause such side effects as headache, upset stomach, nasal congestion, facial flushing and hearing and vision problems. Men who’ve recently had a heart attack or have severe heart disease have to use oral ED drugs with caution, if at all. Read More
MONDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) — A “nanoparticle” topical treatment for erectile dysfunction appears to work well, at least in a study involving rats.
According to the researchers, five of seven rats developed erections after their penises received a coating of a special hybrid of nanoparticles that slowly released nitric oxide (NO), which relaxes cells in the penis to help blood vessels open, bringing in more blood and swelling the tissues. Read More
TUESDAY, April 14 (HealthDay News) — The erectile dysfunction drugs Cialis (tadalafil) and Viagra (sildenafil) didn’t appear to damage vision in men who took the medications daily for six months, according to a drug company study.
These drugs, called selective phodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, treat erectile dysfunction by interfering with the action of the compound PDE5 in the blood vessels of the penis. But there are concerns that PDE5 inhibitors may also act on similar compounds in the retina, the part of the eye that receives and transmits images to the brain, according to background information in the study. Read More
FRIDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) — A Chinese herbal remedy known as “horny goat weed” may indeed live up to its name as a natural version of Viagra.
Italian researchers report that laboratory studies show that the compound has the potential to treat erectile dysfunction, and possibly with fewer side effects than its pharmaceutical cousin.
“No in-vivo studies in an animal model have been performed at this regard, so a lot of work must be done. We would like to test in vivo [with animals] the molecule to understand if it really works in humans,” said study lead author Mario Dell’Agli, of the University of Milan’s laboratory of pharmacognosy. “At this stage of the research, we cannot say if the molecule we have synthesized possesses less side effects with respect to Viagra. However, this derivative seems to be in vitro [in lab tests] more selective than Viagra, because it targets [an enzyme involved in blood flow to the penis] more precisely.” Read More
FRIDAY, Sept. 12 (HealthDay News) — Men with sleep apnea may suffer from a treatable form of erectile dysfunction caused by regular deprivation of oxygen experienced during these episodes of obstructed breathing, a new report says.
University of Louisville researchers found that, in a study of mice, one week of chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) — the lack of oxygen suffered during obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) — resulted in a 55 percent decline in their daily spontaneous erections. After five weeks, the length of time between mice attempts at mating increased on average by 60-fold. Read More
FRIDAY, Aug. 15 (HealthDay News) — Statins might quickly help reverse erectile dysfunction among men who have metabolic syndrome, new animal research suggests.
A threat to cardiovascular health, metabolic syndrome is also known to raise the risk for erectile dysfunction (ED). The current finding indicates that statins may reduce levels of a specific protein that contributes to ED. Read More
THURSDAY, July 3 (HealthDay News) — Frequent sexual intercourse may cut down on a man’s chances of developing erectile dysfunction, Finnish researchers report.
“This is the same as any other part of the body. It’s what we in vascular surgery refer to as the ‘use it or lose it’ concept,” said Dr. Hossein Sadeghi-Nejad, an associate professor of urology at UMDNJ New Jersey Medical School Hackensack University Medical Center. “Sexual activity will promote maintenance of normal erectile function down the line.” Read More
