PRP for Sexual Rejuvenation In Salem, Ceredigion

This is a natural product made from a sample of your own blood. The larger, red blood cells are removed by spinning the blood sample, using a centrifuge, which leaves the plasma containing a high density of platelets – hence the term Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP).

Platelets are cell fragments that are linked to the wound response mechanism in the body, for example in the blood clotting response.

PRP also contains pluripotent stem cells that have the potential to develop into several different skin types to replace those that may be lacking in number, or function. It also contains Growth Factor Proteins (cytokines) that can stimulate cells to proliferate and repair tissue, increasing volume, blood supply, and rejuvenating tissue structure and function.

When used to treat sexual health problems, the PRP is injected into the erogenous areas of the body that are to be treated, such as the vagina and penis. The injections are made using a very small bore needle and shouldn’t be painful but can be uncomfortable.

There are many treatments available to men and women for sexual health problems. Before undertaking PRP treatment you should consider consulting with your General Practitioner and accessing other solutions, such as psychological support or counselling; pharmacological interventions (e.g., phosphodiesterase type 5 drugs such as Viagra®) or hormone replacement therapy (HRT). These options can be accessed both through the NHS or privately.

If you choose to go ahead with PRP treatment you may be asked to do some things before treatment starts. For men, you may be asked to regularly use a penile pump for 2 to 6 weeks to stimulate the area ready for healing. If treatment is for a desired increase in girth or length you will be required to do this more regularly than if treatment is for erectile dysfunction for example. There are not usually any pre-treatment requirements for women.

Careful discussions regarding your reasons for wanting Platelet Rich Plasma therapy for sexual rejuvenation are very important. You must also make sure that this treatment can deliver what you want and how you would like to feel afterwards. Your practitioner should be able to answer all these questions.

A full medical history should also be taken to make sure that there are no reasons why you shouldn’t undertake this treatment. You may be asked to sign a consent form which means that you have understood the potential benefits and risks associated with the procedure.

A numbing cream (topical local anaesthetic) will be applied to the areas that are going to be injected. A small amount of blood (10-20ml) is drawn from your arm, in much the same way as a blood test is performed in a GP’s surgery. This sample is then spun in a centrifuge using a sterile pack that ensures safety.

What follows next will depend on the specific PRP technique and system used. For some practices, after centrifuging, the PRP must be activated by the addition of calcium chloride or gluconate to initiate the fibrin clotting process. The platelet rich matrix must then be used within 10-12 minutes before it solidifies. The PRP will be injected into the erogenous areas. For women, this may include injections into the clitoris and vaginal wall, or just into the vaginal wall, depending on the diagnosis. In men, the injections are made into the penis, into the two sponge like cylinders of tissue in the shaft of the penis, known as the corpus cavernous.

Initial treatments may take between 40-60 minutes. Usually one treatment is considered enough, but in some cases, you may be recommended to have another treatment approximately 4 to 8 weeks after the first. This is to initiate another healing and growth factor cascade into the area for an increased result, depending on the application of the treatment. You may then wish to have top-up treatments over the coming years. Results are expected to last up to 1.5 years, but each patient is different and results achievable will vary per individual, dependent on the symptoms treated and the age of the person.

Photographs may also be taken by the practitioner for a "before and after" comparison later, particularly for men, if erectile problems or penile abnormalities are being treated. A questionnaire on sexual health may also be completed at different time frames to assess and analyse the effectiveness of the treatment.

In Men – The procedure is considered comfortable with a mild pinching or pressure sensation during treatment. There are generally no side effects from PRP treatment injected into the penis, but you can expect the effects of the numbing cream to last for 30 – 60 minutes after treatment, at which point you may notice mild soreness which can last for 24 hours or so. There may be redness or mild bleeding at the points of injection.

In Women – Again, the procedure is regarded as comfortable due to the application of the local anaesthetic cream, often meaning that a sensation of pressure is all that is felt. Side effects are again few but may include soreness after the anaesthetic wears off and bleeding or spotting from the injected areas for a day.

When PRP is used for sexual rejuvenation it does involve injecting intimate areas of the body and therefore carries a risk of infection, bleeding, bruising and less commonly nerve damage.

This treatment should not be offered to pregnant or postnatal women, and those still breast feeding. You may be asked to perform a pregnancy test prior to treatment if you are not sure whether you could be pregnant.

PRP treatment in this area would also not be given to anyone with;

• a sexually transmitted disease;
• a urinary tract infection or someone who is prone to these infections;
• a low platelet count;
• hypofibrinogenaemia (fibrinogen deficiency);
• haemodynamic instability (collapse of blood vessels);
• sepsis (or other infections);
• chronic liver disease;
• or receiving anti-coagulation therapy (warfarin, dabigatran, heparin).

Men with diabetes who might be experiencing problems with their sexual health should consult their GP in the first instance. A full health check prior to treatment should expose any other contra-indications.

Platelet Rich Plasma therapy is not available as a treatment for sexual rejuvenation on the NHS, although other treatment options are provided through the public healthcare system.

We would always recommend that you visit your General Practitioner (GP) before embarking on private treatment for sexual or genital problems. As well as their advice and guidance they may also be able to refer you to a local NHS Hospital who can treat you depending on the condition or concern.

The use of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is still relatively new in the field of aesthetics, especially in relation to sexual health concerns, but the individual testimonies seem to be encouraging to others looking for help.

As of 2017, there have been no long-term, randomised controlled trials of PRP specifically to treat sexual dysfunction in women, but some rat studies have been performed looking at male erectile dysfunction with positive results. Some more recent studies have started to analyse the evidence base for the use of PRP to treat erectile dysfunction in men. Anecdotal evidence for the use of PRP for these indications is generally positive.

There are perhaps more alternative treatment options available for men, than women, and sexual health and satisfaction in women is much more multifactorial, which therefore may make it more difficult to treat.

Because PRP is natural and autologous, using the body’s own healing processes, it is considered safe. It is also mostly painless, with minimal down time. The results are very individual and you need to be clear about what you expect to happen, and be realistic about the outcome you can achieve.