The O-Shot, short for Orgasm Shot or Orchid Shot, is the common name for a non-surgical platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment that may increase the frequency and quality of orgasms. Clinics offerings this treatment inject the PRP solution into their client’s clitoris, labia and G-spot.
The O-Shot contains PRP from a client’s own blood. PRP contains bioactive molecules known as growth factors that promote healing. During PRP therapies, the clinic draws blood from a patient or client and isolates the PRP. They then inject the isolated PRP into the part of the body that needs healing. PRP has shown promising results for a number of other medical applications.
The term platelet-rich plasma was first used by CS Kingsley. In 1954, he wrote about the platelet concentration required for the transfusions of patients with thrombocytopenia, a condition that lowers platelet count. The first PRP blood bank was established during the 1960s. In the 1980s, doctors confirmed that growth factors released by platelets could repair damaged human tissue.
As the evidence behind PRP grew, so did its applications. In 1972, platelets were first used to regulate blood during surgery. Just three years later, scientists used PRP in reconstructive treatments. By 1987, a surgeon used PRP during heart surgery to reduce blood loss and the risk of blood disorders. Today, PRP is commonly used to help injured athletes return to competition sooner. Doctors claim these treatments can help repair muscles and broken bones more quickly than traditional therapies. PRP treatments have also helped people recover from surgery and regrow their hair.
Who invented the O-Shot?
The O-Shot was invented by Dr. Charles Runels. The Alabama doctor of internal medicine had previously developed what he called the "Vampire Facelift," which involved injecting PRP taken from a client’s arm into their face. The results he saw inspired him to consider further applications for PRP. He reportedly began injecting his own penis and felt it gave him stronger erections. He gave the first O-Shot to his partner, who asked for the procedure to get more enjoyment from their sexual encounters. After noting her satisfaction, he decided to offer the procedure to his patients.
Does the O-Shot work?
The O-Shot is marketed at women experiencing sexual dysfunction, including people who struggle to have orgasms, who have lost vaginal sensitivity and who have a low libido. Supporters of the O-Shot say that it works by stimulating stem cells and blood vessels, boosting collagen production, and creating new blood vessels and nerves which rejuvenate the genitals. With blood flowing and new nerves tingling, they say the O-Shot can help people improve their sexual function and pleasure. They claim it may:
- increase sexual desire
- increase arousal
- increase lubrication
- lead to better orgasms.
There may also be some non-sexual benefits, including reducing incontinence, and treating chronic pain triggered by childbirth, the application of transvaginal mesh, or interstitial cystitis. It may also help treat genital skin conditions including lichen sclerosus and lichen planus.
The O-Shot also has its critics, with most arguing that without more large-scale peer-reviewed studies, it’s impossible to say whether this treatment can reliably get the results it promises. They argue that without this evidence, clinics promoting the O-Shot and its purported benefits may be misleading their clients. This is especially true for clinics claiming the O-Shot is backed by “medical science." While there are several studies that support the use of PRP in other medical contexts, there is no medical science supporting the use of the O-Shot for increased sexual satisfaction.
Some critics have also questioned Dr. Runels' credentials and methods. They note that as a doctor of internal medicine, he is likely to have very limited knowledge of gynecology. They also question the ethics of performing an experimental procedure on a sexual partner. Once someone receives a procedure, they become a patient, and the AMA Code of Medical Ethics states it is unethical for physicians to have romantic or sexual interactions with their patients. Dr. Runels was disqualified by the Food and Drug Administration as a clinical investigator in 2009 and, in regards to a separate incident, fined by the State Board of Medical Examiners of Alabama the same year for misuse of hormone replacement therapy, although restrictions on his license were later overturned.
