The Priapus Shot—often referred to as P-Shot—is a non-surgical procedure that involves injecting platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from your own blood into the penis, using a tiny needle. This is to improve blood flow to the penis through new tissue growth and repair, which improves sexual health and helps men achieve and maintain stronger, firmer erections. The P-Shot involves taking platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from your blood and injecting it into your penis. This means your doctor takes your own cells and tissues and injects them into your penile tissues to promote tissue growth and purportedly give you better erections.
Your blood contains white and red blood cells as well as platelets (also called thrombocytes), which contain growth factors that are essential for healing and tissue growth processes. Isolating this platelet-rich plasma and injecting it into the body stimulates cell production, repairing and rejuvenating the tissues and even creating new blood vessels.
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. He developed a Priapus Shot protocol, intended to ensure optimum patient selection and education as well as proper PRP extraction, anesthesia, and injection technique. The protocol also recommends daily use of a penis pump (more on that below), aerobic exercise, and complementary medication, all in support of improved outcomes.
What is the P-Shot used for?
The P-Shot is based on PRP therapy used in recovery from muscle and joint injuries and explored for treating chronic health conditions.
In all cases, it’s considered an experimental treatment.
In short, the P-Shot has been used as an alternative treatment in cases including:
- Erectile dysfunction (ED)
- Lichen sclerosis
- Peyronie’s disease, a condition in which scar tissue makes the penis curve when it’s erect
- Penis enhancement
- General sexual function, performance, and orgasm enhancement
Benefits of P shot
- It can improve blood flow to the penis, for stronger, longer-lasting erections. This can boost self-esteem and lead to a more satisfying sex life.
- There’s no downtime afterward, and initial results can occur within two days of treatment.
- It can enhance the length and girth of the penis.
- Doctors say it can remodel and reduce the fibrous scar tissue caused by Peyronie’s disease, alleviating erection pain and reducing penile curvature.
- It’s a drug-free alternative to many leading erectile dysfunction treatments (like Viagra), and it can reportedly enhance the effects of Cialis or Trimix.
- Because it’s derived from your own blood, there’s little to no risk of allergic reactions.
Who is a good candidate for the P shot?
The P-Shot is still often recommended
- For men who have compromised sexual function or reduced sensation due to various medical conditions, including prostate cancer, diabetes, or an enlarged prostate.
- For those who simply want heightened sensitivity, increased girth and length, reduced curvature, and improved sexual performance can be considered good candidates for a P-Shot procedure.
How do you prepare for the procedure?
You don’t need to do anything specific to prepare for this procedure.
You may want to get a physical or a full set of laboratory blood tests to check your overall health if you haven’t already done so in the past year. Making sure you have healthy blood, plasma, and platelets is crucial.
What to expect during your appointment
The P-Shot is an outpatient procedure, so you can go in, have it done, and be out later that day. You may want to take a day off work or other responsibilities to allow yourself enough time to get it done, but this isn’t necessary.
When you arrive at the clinic, you’ll likely be asked to lie down on a table and wait for the doctor to begin. Once the procedure begins, the doctor or assistant will:
- Apply a cream or ointment that numbs the genital area and give you a local anesthetic that numbs the area around it, too.
- Take a blood sample from your body, usually from your arm or somewhere non-invasive, into a testing tube.
- Put the testing tube in a centrifuge for a few minutes to separate the components of your blood and isolate the platelet-rich plasma (PRP).
- Extract PRP from the testing tube fluid and put them into two separate syringes for injection.
- Inject PRP into the penile shaft, this is completed in a few minutes with about 4 to 5 separate injections.
- Give a penis pump to people who received an injection into the penile shaft. This helps draw blood into the penis and ensure the PRP is working as intended. You may be asked to do this yourself daily for 10 minutes over a few weeks. But using one too often or too long can damage elastic tissue in the penis, leading to less firm erections.
And you’re done! You’ll probably be able to go home in an hour or less afterward.
What to expect during recovery
Recovery is quick. You should be able to resume normal activities, like work or school, the same day or the next.
Avoid having sexual intercourse for a couple of days after the procedure to avoid infecting the injection sites. Try to limit intense physical activity for a couple days, too, so that sweating, or chafing doesn’t irritate the area.
When should you see results?
Your results can vary widely based on your overall health as well as other factors that may be contributing to your sexual function. Some people see results right away after one treatment. Others may not experience results for several months or until they’ve received multiple treatments.
According to Dr. Gaines, based on his experience as a provider of the Priapus Shot at his practice, he categorizes responses to treatment into three general buckets:
- Early responders see effects within the first 24 hours.
- Normal responders see effects in three to six treatments; after the second treatment they notice a change in responses. In one month or two months they reach the peak of their results.
- Late responders see good results in three to four months.