The P-Shot: Benefits, Costs & Side Effects

Would you inject your own blood into your penis if it meant better sexual function? No wrong answers here.

While it may sound like a gimmick or merely something for shock value, the P-shot (or Priapus Shot^®) is considered an emerging treatment in men’s sexual health, with early anecdotal reports of benefit. Still, more high-quality research is needed to fully establish its safety and effectiveness.

The P-shot for men is a penis-specific version of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. With this treatment, blood is drawn from your arm, concentrated with a centrifuge to get the “good stuff,” and then injected at the site where those components are needed.

We know — needles, “experimental” treatments, and your penis don’t exactly seem like an ideal combo on paper. However, some evidence suggests this treatment may help improve male sexual dysfunction and sexual performance.

We’re not saying the P-shot is a new miracle erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment. Research is still in the early phase, and medical treatments aren’t miracles — they’re science.

But for people experiencing ED and finding other treatments ineffective, the potential benefits of the P-shot for men may be worth considering.

As mentioned above, the Priapus shot can be used for male enhancement and to improve sexual activity. But what does this mean? Does it work to treat erectile dysfunction? What is the P-shot used for, exactly?

Named after the Greek god of sexual health, the Priapus shot was first used by Charles Runels, MD. (Dr. Runels is the inventor of the famous “Kardashian vampire facial” — bet you never thought you’d read those words in an article about treating erectile dysfunction).

Platelet-rich plasma treatment is marketed for several urologic conditions, dermatologic conditions, and musculoskeletal injuries, including:

• Erectile dysfunction

• Muscle, nerve, tendon, and joint injuries

• Peyronie’s disease, a condition where abnormal scarring causes penile curvature

• Urinary incontinence

PRP may also be an effective treatment for hair loss.

As noted, P-shots are a version of PRP treatment — a simple process with similarities to a blood transfusion.

PRP treatment usually follows these steps:

• A healthcare professional draws a blood sample from your body, typically from your arm.

• The blood is centrifuged to separate it into three components — platelet-rich plasma, platelet-poor plasma, and red blood cells.

• The platelet-rich plasma is extracted with a syringe.

• Then a local anesthetic or numbing cream is used to prevent pain at the injection site, and the PRP extract is injected into whatever body part you’re trying to treat — which is the penis, in the case of P-shots.

What actually happens once the platelets are injected is less clear. According to one study, the concentrated platelets seem to result in a large increase in various growth factors wherever they’re injected.

This could mean that the cells and plasma injected into your penile tissues promote growth and increase blood flow — a necessary part of getting erections — to give you firmer erections for better sex.

We wish there was a simple answer to this question, but the reality is that the effects of the P-shot can vary among men who get the treatment.

Many guys experience its benefits for several months or even a year. But remember, it can take a few weeks following your first injection to notice any changes.

Recent research has looked into P-shot treatment as one of the latest ED treatments, with studies showing promising results.

In one study of PRP injections, none of the patients experienced complications after treatment, and the injections were considered effective for ED. However, this was a very small study with only 17 patients.

A slightly larger study involving over 60 men with mild to moderate ED also found that two plasma-rich platelet injections taken a month apart were safe. But the researchers didn’t find any difference between the PRP treatment and a placebo.

In short, P-shots are still considered a novel treatment. We’ll need to see a lot more research before we can support its effectiveness as a viable ED treatment.

Peyronie’s disease happens when scar tissue builds up within the penis. It can make the penis take on a curvature or other changes in shape. Some men experience penile pain or sexual function issues.

The P-shot might help Peyronie’s disease by contributing new growth factors to this area. Theoretically, this could help break down existing scar tissue and promote healthy tissue regeneration and new blood vessel formation.

A 2022 pilot study on PRP injections for Peyronie’s disease concluded that while there’s limited data to suggest effectiveness, they’re considered safe and well-tolerated.

Another 2024 study found that P-shots were effective in treating Peyronie’s when combined with percutaneous needle tunneling (creating multiple small tunnels within tissue to break up plaque) and penile modeling (reducing penile curvature using a vacuum device, traction, or prostheses).

Wondering what to expect when it comes to P-shot costs? 

P-shot price tags can vary based on factors like your geographic location, the healthcare provider performing the procedure (it’s only done by trained healthcare professionals), and more logistics.

A 2020 report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons found that the average fee for a PRP procedure was just short of $1,000 — not including other expenses like prep and aftercare.

Where you get your treatment done can affect the cost. For instance, a single procedure averages between $1,200 and $1,800 at Bella Medical Aesthetics in Maryland. Meanwhile, the same procedure could cost upwards of $1,800 at Miami Aesthetic Institute in Florida.

You should also know that since Priapus shots are often deemed a cosmetic treatment (even though ED is a medical condition), your health insurance may not cover them. But it’s still worth checking with your insurance plan about possible coverage.

The P-shot has almost no downtime — most men can carry on with their normal activities the same day they get an injection.

But, as with any medication or treatment, there are potential side effects and risks involved with P-shots and other ED injections. One risk to be aware of is that the treatment may not work. 

Reported P-shot side effects include:

• Redness

• Swelling

• Pain and discomfort at the site of injection

• Bleeding

• Bruising

• Infection

• Allergic reactions, although these are rare

Not every guy will experience P-shot side effects, of course, but it’s important to be aware of the potential risks.

If you’re still looking for a solution for erectile dysfunction, PRP penile injections aren’t the only way to go.

Prescription ED Medication

One of the most researched and proven-effective ways to treat ED is with medications known as PDE5 inhibitors. These drugs block an enzyme known as phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5), which helps increase blood flow to the penis.

You’re probably familiar with some PDE5 inhibitors, like:

• Viagra^® (and its generic sildenafil)

• Cialis^® (and generic tadalafil)

• Stendra^® (avanafil)

These medications are available from Hims as either oral tablets or convenient chewable hard mints.

Therapy for ED

PDE5 inhibitors work best for physical causes of erectile dysfunction. But if you deal with depression or find yourself plagued by sexual performance anxiety in the bedroom, you could benefit from counseling.

Talk therapy can help many causes of psychological ED, whether it’s relationship issues, an anxiety disorder, or work stress.

Penile Surgery

If you’re looking at the P-shot procedure to enhance penis size and girth, you can research alternative options like penis-enlargement surgery. We also recommend reading up on whether or not penis-enlargement pills actually work (spoiler: they don’t).

There are also other options to consider, like vacuum erection devices, penis pumps, injectable medications, and implants.

For extra help increasing erectile function and sexual satisfaction, lifestyle changes — like cutting back on alcohol and quitting smoking — are always good for general wellness and sexual health. 

So, you’re dealing with erectile dysfunction or want to improve your sex life. Out of the many treatment options available, P-shots might be standing out to you.

If you’re curious about trying this treatment, here’s what you need to know:

• The Priapus shot (or P-shot) is a potential treatment for erectile dysfunction that involves injecting plasma-rich platelets collected from your own blood into your penis. It’s a penis-specific type of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment.

• PRP is FDA-approved for bone grafts and has been used off-label for wound healing, musculoskeletal injuries, Peyronie’s disease, and urinary incontinence. So far, it seems like a safe treatment.

• Despite its safety, recent studies have shown conflicting results regarding the effectiveness of PRP therapy for ED. Studies on P-shots have also been limited in size.

If you’re interested in PRP or other injections as a treatment plan for ED, you should also consider the many other treatment options that may work as well or better.

Talk to a healthcare provider like a urologist about treatments like erectile dysfunction medications, which can be taken alongside PRP treatment. You can start the process with our free online intake assessment.