BPC-157: a super peptide for erectile dysfunction

BPC-157 might be able to help with erectile dysfunction.

And I’m going to share with you 7 ways how it can do so.

What is BPC-157

BPC-157 for ED

BPC-157 (body protection compound-157) is composed of 15 amino acids strung together. It was created after BPC was discovered in human gastric juice (stomach acid). So BPC is naturally occurring in the human body, but BPC-157 is not.

Most people are cautious when they hear that something is synthetic, but BPC-157 is extremely safe. There is no know lethal dose in humans or animals. In animals, doses up to 10mg/kg of BPC-157 have been used without causing any side effects or death. This means, that if you accidentally massively overdose, you’ll likely be fine.

After BPC has been isolated from human gastric juice, it has been studied for its potential therapeutic effects on various bodily functions. Some of which I’ll talk about in this article. But first, let’s talk about BPC-157 and erectile dysfunction.

BPC-157 for erectile dysfunction

There are 7 main ways how BPC-157 can help with ED and sexual health and they are:

  • Promoting angiogenesis
  • Being anti-inflammation
  • Promoting tissue repair
  • Increasing nitric oxide
  • Protecting against excess serotonin
  • Lowering anxiety
  • Helping against stress

Let’s dive into the first one.

#1 BPC-157, angiogenesis and ED

The penis is one of the most vascular organs in the body.

During an erection, the smooth muscle cells of the penis relax which allows more blood to flow into the penis. If the muscles can’t properly relax or the blood vessels have been blocked/damaged, it becomes harder to get or maintain an erection.

More than 80% of ED cases are vasogenic, which means that the origin is connected to vascular dysfunction.

Vascular dysfunction is due to a variety of reasons, namely:

  • Diabetes
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Obesity
  • Sleep apnea
  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Autoimmune conditions
  • Etc.

It comes down to oxidative stress and inflammation that causes vascular damage and erectile dysfunction.

BPC-157 to the rescue.

BPC-157 has been shown to promote angiogenesis; the growth of new blood vessels. In my podcast with Dr Judson, he mentioned that shockwave therapy is so effective because it promotes the growth of new blood vessels.

This allows for more blood to flow into the penis, allowing someone to get a full erection that lasts a long time.

BPC-157 increases various blood vessel growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF).

BPC-157 therapy (R):

  • Enhances blood flow to the injured tissue.
  • Forms new blood vessels around an injury or blocked blood vessel, bypassing the block.
  • Increases blood vessel density (more blood vessels in a given area) (R).

Not only does BPC-157 upregulate VEGF, but also the receptor (VEGFR2) expression and internalization. Meaning, VEGF becomes more effective in general. The activation of VEGFR2 increases eNOS signaling, which promotes nitric oxide production (R).

Related article

🪄Shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction

#2 BPC-157 lowers inflammation that causes ED

Inflammation is one of the leading causes of blood vessel damage, which then leads to reduced blood flow to the penis and impaired erectile function.

Damage to blood vessels makes them less responsive to nitric oxide. And nitric oxide is a key signaling molecule that relaxes the smooth muscle cells in the walls of the blood vessels in the penis, allowing for increased blood flow and the development of an erection.

Inflammation also disrupts many signaling pathways that promote and maintain erections. Inflammation damages neurons that promote erections, such as dopamine, NO, acetylcholine, etc.

In summary, inflammation damages both blood vessels and neurons, thus reducing the ability to get an erection.

BPC-157 to the rescue!

BPC-157 has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. It downregulates pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and upregulates anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-10 (IL-10) (R).

Reduced inflammation in the penis could potentially improve blood flow and erectile function.

#3 BPC-157 and penile tissue repair

Oxidative stress and inflammation cause tissue damage. Tissue damage to the smooth muscle of the blood vessels reduces vasodilation and the ability to get and maintain erections.

BPC-157 has been shown to have tissue repair properties. This is thought to occur through the upregulation of growth factors such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) as well as stimulation of stem cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation.

Let’s focus on stem cells for a sec.

Stem cells have been studied for their potential to improve ED since it plays a role in cell regeneration and recovery by increasing the levels of growth factors and suppressing inflammatory factors (R).

Stem cells have been shown to:

  • Improve erectile function by promoting the growth of new blood vessels and nerve tissue in the penis.
  • Enhance smooth muscle regeneration.
  • Reduce inflammation in the penis.

In human studies, stem cell therapy has shown promise as a treatment for ED. One study found that injection of placental matrix-derived mesenchymal stem cells into the penis, 3 out of 8 men were able to get an erection on their own (R).

Another study found that injection of bone marrow-derived stem cells into the penis significantly improved erectile function in men with diabetes-induced ED (R).

Here are some ways in which BPC-157 can affect stem cells:

  1. Stimulates stem cell migration/relocation: BPC-157 has been shown to stimulate the migration of various types of stem cells, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). This can relocate stem cells to tissue that needs it for recovery.
  2. Enhances stem cell proliferation: BPC-157 has also been shown to increase the number of stem cells available for tissue repair and regeneration.
  3. Promotes differentiation of stem cells: BPC-157 has been shown to promote the conversion of stem cells to specific cell types, such as osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) and chondrocytes (cartilage-forming cells). It likely also promotes the creation of smooth muscle cells from stem cells.
  4. Protects stem cells from damage: BPC-157 has been shown to protect stem cells from various types of damage, including oxidative stress and DNA damage. This can help to ensure that stem cells remain healthy and functional, to contribute to tissue repair and regeneration.

In summary, BPC-157 promotes tissue repair in the penis by upregulating growth factors, such as stem cells.

#4 BPC-157 increases nitric oxide

Nitric oxide is one of the main vasodilators involved in erections.

Nitric oxide relaxes the smooth muscle surrounding the blood vessels, thus allowing for vasorelaxation.

BPC-157 has been shown to increase the production of NO via a variety of different mechanisms.

For this reason, BPC 157 is also helpful against hypertension (R).

#5 BPC-157 protects against excess serotonin

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter produced in the gut and brain. 95% of serotonin is produced in the gut and once it reaches the bloodstream, it’s taken up by platelets and mast cells. During inflammation, the mast cells and platelets release serotonin, among other things.

Serotonin in excess causes vascular constriction, inflammation and leakiness and reduces nitric oxide release (R, R, R, R).

High levels of serotonin can cause sexual side effects, including ED, delayed ejaculation (penile numbness) and decreased libido. Sexual dysfunction is one of the most common side effects of serotonin-raising compounds, such as SSRIs.

Mirtazapine and cyproheptadine, which antagonize the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor, are successfully used as add-on therapy for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction (R, R).

BPC-157 also protects against excess serotonin, by antagonizing the effects of the 5-HT2A receptor, lowering oxidative stress and inflammation and promoting vasorelaxation (R).

👉How to lower excess serotonin

#6 BPC-157 is anti-anxiety

Anxiety is one of the biggest boner killers.

Anxiety can be especially problematic for individuals with performance anxiety. This can create a self-reinforcing cycle of anxiety and ED, where anxiety leads to difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection, which can in turn increase anxiety.

Anxiety can lead to increased sympathetic nervous system activity, which can cause the release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones cause vasoconstriction, reducing blood flow to the penis and impairing erectile function.

In addition, anxiety can also have a psychological impact on sexual function. Anxiety can cause feelings of worry, fear, and self-doubt, which can reduce sexual desire and interfere with arousal. It can also lead to distraction and difficulty focusing on sexual stimuli, making it more difficult to achieve or maintain an erection.

In summary, anxiety causes ED, activates the sympathetic nervous system and reduces libido.

BPC-157, as a great stabilizing compound, has anti-anxiety effects (R).

#7 BPC-157 helps with stress

Studies have shown that stress leads to depressed mood, and loss of self-esteem and libido, which can contribute to erectile dysfunction (R).

BPC-157 has been shown to have anti-stress effects.

BPC-157 appears to be a powerful adaptogen to most systems in the body, including the sympathetic nervous system. It also blocks the harmful effects of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (R, R).

In summary, BPC-157 can help you cope with stress better and prevent stress-induced ED.

Related articles:

How should I take BPC-157?

BPC-157 can be injected (either subcutaneous injections (under the skin) or intramuscular injections (into the muscle)), taken orally or intranasally, or applied topically as a cream.

The injection is by far the most common, which you can also take orally. No need to buy capsules if you plan on taking it orally.

If you plan on taking BPC-157 for wound healing, it’s best not to take it orally as the peptide may be broken down in the digestive system before it can be absorbed and reach the bloodstream.

Nasal sprays are great if you want direct brain benefits.

When it comes to injection into the penis, some doctors do it, so it is safe. But they are trained how to do it, so I’d recommend injecting yourself at your own risk.

BPC-157 arginate vs BPC-157 acetate

BPC-157 arginate has over 90% oral bioavailability in contrast to the 3% oral activity of standard BPC-157 acetate.

You can take BPC-157 arginate orally for wound healing since the absorption will be excellent. BPC-157 acetate degrades quickly in the gut, which makes BPC-157 arginate superior for oral use.

BPC-157 dosing

The standard dose for healing an injury is 250-300mcg BPC-157 twice a day for 10-20 days or until the injury is healed.

You can take the same dose orally for gut issues or even much higher dosages.

Since BPC-157 is very safe, you can take extremely high doses and be fine.

BPC-157 mixing with bacteriostatic water

Peptides are mixed with bacteriostatic water, which is composed of sterile water and 0.9% benzyl alcohol, an organic preservative that inhibits microbial growth.

BPC-157 vials usually contain 5mg BPC-157.

When mixing, inject 2ml water (2 syringes) slowly into the vial. Inject towards the side of the vial not to hit the powder directly.

Let the liquid dissolve powder automatically without shaking the vial.

In terms of dosing, each 1ml will contain 2.5mg BPC-157. Each 0.1ml will contain 250mcg and each 0.2ml will contain 500mcg.

If your syringe is in units, 100 units are 1ml. So 20 units will be 0.2ml and will contain 500mcg BPC.

Where to get BPC-157

BPC-157 is a prescription medication, but unlike testosterone, you can still legally buy it online without a prescription for “research purposes”.

A few good places to buy peptides are:

Other benefits of BPC-157

While the research on BPC-157 is still in its early stages, here is a list of potential benefits that have been studied in animal models:

  1. Promotes tissue healing and regeneration thus sleeping up the healing process and recovery time.
  2. Reduces inflammation and pain (e.g. joint pain)
  3. Has regenerative effects on connective tissue and bone health
  4. Enhances muscle growth and repair (muscle sprains)
  5. Plays an important role in protecting organs and tissues from damage
  6. Improves gut health and function (it can help with stomach ulcers, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), etc.)
  7. May improve cardiovascular health
  8. May have anti-cancer properties
  9. Help against periodontitis and liver and pancreas lesions (R)
  10. Improves brain health as it’s neuroprotective (R)
  11. Helps lower blood pressure

There are many positive anecdotal reports of people experiencing benefits when using BPC-157. If you have problems, especially gut issues, low-grade inflammation or erectile dysfunction, it’s something worthwhile to test for yourself.

Side effects of BPC-157

BPC-157 is generally well-tolerated and safe. As mentioned previously, BPC-157 has been used in very large doses and had no serious side effects.

Some potential side effects of BPC-157 that have been reported in animal studies include:

  1. Mild digestive discomfort, such as nausea and diarrhea. This can also happen in humans, but this usually goes away after a few days.
  2. Mild irritation or pain at the injection site
  3. Changes in blood pressure or heart rate, although these effects may be transient and return to normal once treatment is stopped

One potential downside is the purity of the product. If the product is not very pure, you can inject yourself with toxins that can trigger the immune system and cause itching, swelling, fever, dizziness, nausea, etc.

Is BPC-157 banned?

BPC-157 is banned for use by USADA in 2022 (R). So yes, if you play professional sports, you’re not allowed to use it.

However, BPC 157 half-life is roughly 4 hours. So if you use it in the off-season and not right before a test, you should be fine.

BPC-157 FAQS

Best time of day to take BPC-157?

Timing doesn’t matter as much compared to taking it in general. If you take it twice a day, then take it 12 hours apart.

If you take it for gut health, then take it at least 45 min before a meal or 2 hours after a meal.

How fast does BPC-157 work?

BPC-157 will immediately start to lower inflammation and reduce pain. Other benefits such as the growth of new blood vessels can take a few days/weeks.

How long can you use BPC-157?

Since BPC-157 has no serious side effects and since BPC is naturally found in the body, it can be taken for a long time.

What is the half-life of BPC-157?

The half-life of BPC-157 is roughly 4 hours. The elimination will look something like this:

4 hours = 100mcg
8 hours = 50mcg
12 hours = 25mcg
16 hours = 12.5mcg
20 hours = 6.25mcg
24 hours = 3.125mcg

Does BPC-157 increase growth hormone?

No, but it does increase growth hormone receptors, thus enhancing growth hormone sensitivity and the healing effect of growth hormone (R).

4 thoughts on “BPC-157: a super peptide for erectile dysfunction”

  1. Tried the oral form of BPC-157 (DNA Health) and gave me 0 benefit except the worse anxiety ever, knowing that I’ve tried many supplements and nothing made me anxious like BPC did

    Reply

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