Researchers in Russia have used laser treatment to cure male sexual dysfunction. The Institute of Physics magazine - Opto & Laser Europe - reported that after treatment with a device developed by Ekaterina Koultchavenia of the Novosibirsk Research Institute, all 24 male patients in the trial re-gained the ability to have spontaneous erections. The patients were first treated with a vacuum device that induced a passive erection. Dr Koultchavenia then used an integrated infra-red laser to irradiate the top of the penis for five minutes. This treatment was repeated once per day for 15 days and proved to be more effective than vacuum treatment alone.
Koultchavenia told Opto & Laser Europe, "Almost all of our patients had previously been treated with vacuum decompression alone, but their complaint soon returned. We believe the success of our laser treatment is due to a massaging of the veins which leads to increased metabolism and nutrition of the tissue," said Koultchavenia.
After this treatment many patients were able to get erections without the use of the vacuum treatment and some even increased the length of their penis.
Dr Koultchavenia estimates that 40-60% of middle-aged men suffer from impotence, and while the condition is not life-threatening, it does dramatically reduce quality of life. She says her device, which she has patented and is hoping to commercialise, is effective, simple to use and has no side effects. She also hopes to apply a similar treatment to increase the size of breasts.
