Treating Erectile Dysfunction with Umbilical Cord Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

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Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is a condition where a man lacks the ability to get and keep an erection that is firm enough for sexual activity. From time to time, a man may experience having problems getting an erection. This is not generally a cause for concern. However, if the problem persists over time as an ongoing issue, it can result in a great deal of stress, as well as significantly affect a person’s self-confidence. It can also result in relationship and intimacy problems.

Statistic provided by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases shows that approximately 30 million men in the United States have erectile dysfunction. Globally, around 332 million people are experiencing erectile dysfunction.

Patients who suffer from erectile dysfunction may also have underlying health conditions that contribute to their ED struggles. They may need to also get treatment for those conditions in order to see improvement with erectile function. In the majority of cases, the prevalence of ED is related to age; that is, older men experience this problem more often than younger men. Additionally, men who suffered from one or more cardiovascular risk factors were more likely to suffer from this condition. Other common causes of erectile dysfunction include:

Alcoholism and other forms of substance abuse
Diabetes
Parkinson's disease
Sleep disorders
Low testosterone
Surgeries or injuries to the pelvic area or the spinal cord
Prostate cancer treatments
Heart disease
Clogged blood vessels (atherosclerosis)
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Tobacco use
Peyronie's disease
Enlarged prostate
Multiple sclerosis
Certain prescription medications
Obesity
Metabolic syndrome

What are the Symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction?

Men who suffer from erectile dysfunction may experience various symptoms that manifest as a result of this condition. Some of the most common symptoms include:

A reduction in sexual desire
Problems getting an erection
Problems keeping an erection

Patients who suffer from this condition may experience an unfulfilled sex life. They may have strains in their relationships, experience anxiety or depression, and have low self-esteem. Men with ED may also have problems getting their partners pregnant. Unfortunately, the psychological and emotional factors can worsen the symptoms of erectile dysfunction.

What Treatment Options are Available for Erectile Dysfunction?

Patients who suffer from erectile dysfunction generally have a variety of treatment options depending on the cause of their condition. Additionally, the severity of the disorder and any underlying health conditions will also determine what kind of treatment options are available.

In many cases, patients are prescribed medication. Common medications prescribed to patients include:

Avanafil (Stendra)
Vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn)
Sildenafil (Viagra)
Tadalafil (Adcirca, Cialis)

All four of these medications are designed to enhance the effects of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a natural chemical that is produced by the body that helps to relax muscles in the penis. The relaxation increases the blood flow and allows patients to get an erection after being sexually stimulated.

There are various other types of medication that can be provided to patients. These include:

Alprostadil self-injection: These medications are generally injected with a fine needle into the base or the side of the penis.
Alprostadil urethral suppository: This type of medication involves inserting a tiny suppository inside of the penis within the urethra. A special applicator is generally used for the suppository.
Testosterone replacement: In some cases, patients may experience erectile dysfunction as a result of low levels of testosterone. In these cases, patients are routinely prescribed testosterone replacement therapy. This type of treatment can be given in combination with various others.

In addition to medication, doctors can recommend other types of treatment. These include:

Penis pump: This type of device is a hollow tube that is powered by a hand pump or a battery pump. The penis is inserted into the tube, and then the pump is used to extract the air from the tube. This creates a vacuum effect that pulls blood into the penile area. Once an erection is achieved, a tension ring is slipped onto the base of the penis to hold the blood in place. The device is then removed. After intercourse, the tension ring is removed.
Penile implant: This type of treatment involves the surgical placement of devices onto both sides of the penis. These devices can be malleable or inflatable rods. When the devices are inflatable, patients are able to control when and how long they are able to have an erection. The multiple rods provide firmness to the penis but do not allow for flexibility. Implants are generally not recommended until other methods have first been utilized to address the issue.

More recently, studies have found that exercise can also improve erectile dysfunction. Lifestyle changes can also be effective when it comes to helping patients who suffer from this condition. These often include limiting or stopping the consumption of alcohol altogether, quitting smoking, and increasing physical activity. Maintaining a healthy body weight and stopping any illegal drug use can also go a long way when it comes to improving erectile dysfunction.

Finally, many patients find it extremely helpful to go to counseling. Going to a counselor if a patient experiences either emotional or psychological issues that affect erectile dysfunction can be beneficial. Counselors can help patients lower their anxiety levels and help them deal with stress-related problems that often exacerbate their condition.

Over the past decade, there have been numerous studies on the use of umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells to treat erectile dysfunction. The results thus far have been quite promising.

What are Umbilical Cord Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells?

Umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UTC-MSCs), are a type of adult stem cell that is generally extracted from the Wharton's jelly that is found in umbilical cords. This type of adult stem cell is truly unique because it has self-renewing abilities and it is capable of differentiating into numerous cell types. The cell types that UTC-MSCs can differentiate into include:

Adipocytes
Myocytes
Osteoblasts
Chondrocytes
Hepatocytes

Because of their unique combination of features, UCT-MSCs are ideally suited for the treatment of many diseases. They have immune privileged status, which indicates that the immune system in the body is far less likely to attack or reject them. Additionally, there is no loss of life during the extraction process, which makes these types of stem cells more ethical and accepted. These stem cells also have anti-inflammatory properties, which is just one more amazing benefit of using them to treat a wide array of health problems.

Umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells produce a wide array of anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors, and they also have the ability to support nerve regeneration thanks to their own anti-inflammatory qualities.

Using UCT-MSCs to Treat Erectile Dysfunction

Over the past few years, more and more scientific studies have been conducted to learn more about the use of umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells to treat patients who suffer from erectile dysfunction. These studies have provided positive results each time.

A study published in 2022 surrounding the use of UCT-MSCs for erectile dysfunction involved a total of 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats. This study concluded that the use of umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells were effective in down-regulating the expression of α-SMA, TGF-β, and collagen, thus leading to the improvement of diabetes mellitus erectile dysfunction (DMED).

Another study published in 2021 surrounding the use of stem cells for treating erectile dysfunction also provided positive results. The primary focus of this study was the ability of umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into more specialized cell types, and self-renew as well. During the study, scientists focused on whether or not they could confirm that these stem cells have the ability to regenerate tissue and differentiate into various types of specialized cells, which is generally promoted by the secretion of various growth factors. With erectile dysfunction specifically, the use of these stem cells is significant because of their ability to differentiate into neuronal or smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells. This treatment proves incredibly promising for restoring the possible structural damage within the penile tissue that causes erectile dysfunction in many patients.

One study published in 2016 by Levy at al. found that the use of stem cell injections was satisfactory when it comes to improving peak systolic velocity that was measured within the penile triplex during a six-month evaluation. Further improvement in erections was noted approximately six weeks after treatment. Patients were able to maintain the positive effects during the full six months following the injection. Another study was performed in 2018 to confirm the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of this treatment.

Umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells have been proven to be an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction. The safety and efficacy of this method have already been demonstrated in a clinical setting, with virtually no serious side effects resulting from this method of treatment. If you are considering seeking treatment for erectile dysfunction, then umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells may just be the right option for you.

Considering stem cell therapy? Let Cellebration Wellness provide the expert guidance you need—contact us today at 1.800.601.8290!