Botox

The Good

Botox, otherwise known as botulinum toxin type A, is injected into the penis. Yes, with a needle. The toxin paralyzes the smooth muscles inside the penis, which, surprisingly, ends up stimulating blood flow.

The Bad The effects last for several months, so it would be a four-to-five-times-a-year procedure rather than a pop-a-pill-every-time-you-want-sex situation. Scientists still havent figured out why using Botox doesnt leave guys wandering about with an erection, says Nicole Prause, Ph.D., a neuroscientist and sex researcher.

Nitroglycerin Gel

The Good

One in four men with ED reported an improvement in their erections after using a topical gel containing nitroglycerin, according to a recent study. The gel gives your body a hit of nitric oxide, which causes the muscles of the penis to relax so it can become erect. The Bad What good is an erection if youre not awake to enjoy it? Nitroglycerin, explains UCLA urologist Jacob Rajfer, M.D., makes your blood vessels dilate. And when they dilate, your blood pressure drops and you get light-headed. You may get an erection from the gel but may feel faint, or even lose consciousness.

Stem-Cell Therapy

The Good

Stem cells are extracted from various parts of your body and injected directly into your penis, says Jesse Ory, M.D., a urologist at Dalhousie University in Canada. Animal studies have shown promising results, and a Danish study with humans found that nearly half the guys got boners sturdy enough for penetrative sex.

The Bad Those Danish results sound great until you read the fine print and notice that the study was so small that only eight guys achieved erections. Not enough for anyone to flush their blue pills down the toilet just yet. And stem cells are tricky; they dont always turn into what you want them to, says Dr. Khler.

Shock-Wave Therapy

The Good Low-intensity extracorporeal shock-wave therapy involves shooting sound waves through erectile tissue, which clears plaque from blood vessels and may promote the growth of new blood vessels. Its not FDA approved yet, though its used abroad, says Irwin Goldstein, M.D., director of San Diego Sexual Medicine.

The Bad Because there is no FDA approval, there are imitation shock-wave devices out there, using acoustic waves unable to deliver the critical energy density, says Dr. Goldstein. Even with treatment using legit devices, you still might need other therapies to achieve functional hardness.