Gel made from dynamite could become radical treatment for erectile dysfunction

Scientists believe dynamite could help create fireworks in the bedroom – as a radical treatment for erectile dysfunction.

Scientists have created a rub-on gel that is applied to a man’s genitals shortly before sex.

The experimental gel contains tiny doses of highly explosive nitroglycerine as well as special ingredients to help it pass through the skin quickly.

As the chemical seeps in, it releases the gas nitric oxide, which helps to dilate the tiny blood vessels that pump blood into the area during arousal.

Now a trial involving nearly 200 men with erection problems is underway in the UK to see if the revolutionary gel can transform flagging sex lives.

One in ten men in the UK suffers erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives.

Although drugs such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra have revolutionised treatment in the last ten years, around 30 per cent of men who take them see no improvement.

Many also suffer side-effects from the treatments such as headaches, nausea and hot flushes.

For these men, the only other options are to inject drugs straight into the penis, or use a pump that manually increases blood supply to the organ. Neither is very popular.

But a fast-acting gel made from the dynamite chemical could be the solution.

Nitroglycerine is an oily, colourless liquid that, in large quantities, is so unstable that the slightest jolt can cause it to spontaneously detonate.

In 1864, the Swedish chemist, engineer, innovator and armaments manufacturer Alfred Nobel perfected a way to stabilise the chemical so it could be safely transported. He patented it under the name dynamite.

But his success came only after several explosions in his laboratory in Stockholm, one of which killed his brother Emil and several other colleagues.

Shortly afterwards, it was also discovered that nitroglycerine, in much smaller quantities, had useful medical properties because it was able to dilate blood vessels and improve blood flow.

It quickly became a popular treatment for chest pain and, for more than 100 years, has been used as a very safe and effective remedy for the heart condition angina.

Thousands of patients in Britain already take nitroglycerine daily to combat chest pain, usually in the form of a pill, skin patch, mouth spray or ointment.

At less than £1 a day, it could also prove to be a cheap and effective remedy for libido problems.

During the trial, which is due to end in a few months, men aged 18 to 70 with a history of erectile problems are using a pea-sized amount of nitroglycerine gel, or an identical looking dummy gel, before sex.

As part of the study the men and their partners have agreed to try and have sex at least once a week for a month.

Researchers will regularly interview them to see if they are able to respond to the gel, using a recognised scoring system to rate their response. They will compare those using the real gel with men on the placebo one.

The men will be followed up for nearly five months to assess the long-term impact on their love lives.

Scientists hope the gel will act more quickly than Viagra-like drugs, some of which must be taken several hours before sex.

But it’s likely to be available only on prescription rather than over-the-counter.

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