The P-Shot (short for Priapus Shot) is a nonsurgical regenerative treatment that involves injecting platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from your own blood into the penis, using a tiny needle.Â
Proponents claim this boosts blood flow through tissue regeneration, which improves sexual health and helps men achieve and maintain stronger, firmer erections. Some claim PRP can also increase girth and help treat urinary incontinence.
Blood contains white and red blood cells as well as platelets (also called thrombocytes), which contain the growth factors that are essential for healing and tissue growth. Isolating platelet-rich plasma and re-injecting it into targeted areas stimulates cell production, to repair tissues and even create new blood vessels.
Named for the Greek god of virility, the Priapus Shot procedure was developed by Dr. Charles Runels, a physician based in Fairhope, Alabama, who also invented the Vampire Facelift and the O-Shot for women’s sexual health. His controversial Priapus Shot protocol outlines optimum patient selection and education, as well as proper PRP extraction, anesthesia, and injection technique.
The official treatment plan also recommends daily use of a penis pump, aerobic exercise, and medication. Some providers combine the P-Shot with stem cells, in an effort to enhance results.
Pros
Cons
Your price will depend on your provider's credentials and level of experience, their practice location, how many shots you need, and a few other key factors.
Good candidates for the P-Shot are healthy men who may want:
The treatment is sometimes recommended for men with compromised sexual function or urinary incontinence due to medical conditions such as prostate cancer, diabetes, or an enlarged prostate.
There is no conclusive medical evidence yet that the P-Shot works, so the treatment is still considered experimental.Â
In 2022, French urologists conducted a small study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PRP injections in men who hadn’t responded to oral medication for vascular erectile dysfunction.Â
A 2023 study (co-authored by Dr. Runels) aimed to answer the hotly debated question: does the P-shot increase size?Â
Separate from the patented P-Shot procedure, a handful of studies explore platelet-rich plasma therapy for a variety of penile problems, with mixed results.
The bottom line: While studies show the P-Shot Protocol works for some patients, more clinical trials on a larger number of patients are needed to show that penile injections can live up to all of the treatment's claims.
Here's what to expect during your hour-long appointment.
Over the coming days and weeks, the PRP will stimulate new collagen production, spur tissue growth, and help new blood vessels form.Â
You’ll need at least one treatment to improve blood flow and sexual enhancement, though your treatment plan may include a series of up to six monthly treatments.
The P-Shot has minimal downtime, and no significant side effects have been reported. It's extremely unlikely that you'd have an allergic reaction to your own blood or develop scar tissue from the tiny needle, though according to one small 2018 study, you may have mild pain and bruising.Â
It’s also possible that you’ll have some swelling, pinpoint bleeding, and soreness around the injection site for a few days post-injection.
To encourage healing and minimize these side effects:
As mentioned above, the Priapus Shot's official protocol also includes daily use of a penis pump. Talk to your provider about how best to use it, to maximize your results.Â
They may also prescribe microdoses of a vasodilator drug like Cialis, to help increase blood flow.
A single P-Shot treatment can purportedly improve blood flow to the penis for a year or more.Â
The aforementioned 2023 study (co-authored by Dr. Runels) showed that the modest increases in length and girth were apparent 6 months after treatment.
GAINSWave treats erectile dysfunction with low-intensity acoustic wave therapy, sometimes called shockwave therapy. This needle-free treatment can also stimulate growth factors, create new blood vessels, and naturally increase blood flow to the penis. It’s primarily intended to improve erectile function and treat Peyronie’s disease, though it may also heighten sexual sensation.
A small 2023 study on the effectiveness of low-intensity shockwave therapy found it “improves erectile function in men with erectile dysfunction as compared with sham treatment, which persists even 6 months after treatment.”
GAINSWave requires a series of 6 to 12 sessions and costs about $500 per session, so depending on your recommended treatment plan, it may be more expensive than the P-Shot.Â
GAINSWave has very few reviews on RealSelf, while reviewers give the P-Shot a 97% Worth It Rating.Â
Consult with an experienced provider who offers a range of solutions and can recommend the best treatment option for you. They may even suggest combining the two therapies.
Updated July 30, 2020