You Won't Believe the Hidden Benefits of PT-141 for Sexual Desire
A six-minute explainer from a urologist on how bremelanotide (PT-141) is described as acting on desire in women and men, with its stated side effects and limits.
With Rena Malik (MD, urologist and pelvic surgeon)
Key moments
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- 0:00What bremelanotide isMalik introduces bremelanotide, or PT-141, as an analog of melanocyte stimulating hormone studied in men and women, and says it is FDA approved for women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder.
- 0:30How and when it is usedShe says it is taken as needed 45 minutes to an hour before sex and works on the brain.
- 0:31The melanocortin system explainedMalik describes melanocortins as signals that affect eating, pain, skin color and sexual activity, reaching brain areas that increase sexual receptiveness.
- 1:01Preclinical findings behind the drugShe says preclinical studies found more sexual receptiveness, higher nitric oxide in the genitals and dilated blood vessels, which led to PT-141's development.
- 1:31Brain imaging in womenMalik describes functional MRI studies in which certain brain areas were activated, self-consciousness related areas were quieter and connectivity rose in women with low desire.
- 2:02Trial results for desireShe reports increased desire for up to 24 hours, at about 2.5 times the rate of placebo in a small study and 2.6 times in larger trials, along with slightly less hunger.
- 2:32Dosing limits and side effectsMalik says to use it once within 24 hours and no more than 8 times a month, with birth control, and lists nausea, flushing, headache, vomiting and hyperpigmentation.
- 3:33Studies in menShe summarizes small studies in men using a nasal spray or injection, reporting improved desire, rigidity, duration and satisfaction.
- 4:05Largest sildenafil non-responder studyMalik describes 342 men who had not responded to sildenafil and reports a positive response in 33 percent versus eight percent on placebo.
- 5:07Off label use and cautionsShe says use in men is off label, relays anecdotal effects, and advises seeing a urologist or sexual medicine expert, especially with high blood pressure or heart disease.
What the video says
Rena Malik, who introduces herself as a urologist and pelvic surgeon, explains bremelanotide, also called PT-141. She describes it as an analog of melanocyte stimulating hormone that acts on the brain rather than on blood flow alone. She says it is FDA approved for women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder and is used as needed, 45 minutes to an hour before sex.
Malik first sets out the melanocortin system, which she says helps control eating, pain, skin color and sexual activity. She says early preclinical studies of melanocyte stimulating hormone showed increased sexual receptiveness, more nitric oxide in the genitals and wider blood vessels. She then describes functional MRI work in women with low desire, in which she says certain brain areas became more active, self-consciousness related areas became less active, and connectivity increased.
On results, Malik says women reported increased desire for up to 24 hours, at about 2.5 times the rate seen with a placebo injection in the small brain study and 2.6 times in larger clinical trials. On use and safety, she says it should be taken once within 24 hours and no more than 8 times a month, with birth control because effects on a growing fetus are unknown. She names uncontrolled high blood pressure and heart disease as contraindications. She lists nausea in up to 40 percent, flushing at about 20 percent, headache at about 11 percent, vomiting at five percent, and focal hyperpigmentation in under one percent.
For men, Malik says studies ranging from 19 to 342 participants used a nasal spray or injection and reported better desire, erection rigidity, duration and satisfaction. In the largest study, of men who had not responded to sildenafil, she reports a positive response in 33 percent on bremelanotide versus eight percent on placebo. She stresses that this use is not FDA approved and is given off label, relays anecdotal reports of strong desire, nausea and cold-like fatigue afterward, and advises seeing a urologist or sexual medicine expert.
On each compound
PT-1410:00
Malik describes PT-141 (bremelanotide) as a melanocyte stimulating hormone analog that acts on the brain. She says it is FDA approved for women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder and is used off label in men, where she says it is still in clinical studies.
See how your DNA reads PT-141What this video doesn’t settle
- The video relays trial figures verbally and does not name the studies, so the results cannot be checked from it.
- Evidence in men comes from small studies, and Malik says it has not been through the trials needed for FDA approval for them.
- Her account of the male experience is anecdotal, and the video gives no long-term safety data.
Questions this video answers
What is PT-141 and how does it work?
Malik describes PT-141, or bremelanotide, as an analog of melanocyte stimulating hormone that works on the brain. She says it activates melanocortin signaling tied to sexual receptiveness, and that preclinical work also pointed to higher nitric oxide and wider blood vessels.
What side effects of PT-141 does Rena Malik mention?
Malik says nausea is most common, in up to 40 percent of women, and tends to ease after the first use. She also lists flushing at about 20 percent, headache at about 11 percent, vomiting at five percent and focal hyperpigmentation in under one percent.
Is PT-141 approved for men?
Malik says it is not. She states that it is FDA approved for women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder, while use in men for low desire or erectile dysfunction remains in clinical studies and is given off label.
How often can PT-141 be used according to this video?
Malik says it is taken as needed 45 minutes to an hour before sex. She says to use it only once within 24 hours and no more than 8 times a month.
Video by Rena Malik, M.D. on YouTube, embedded as published. The summary is written by PeptidesDNA from the video; every claim in it is the speaker’s. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the creator. Not medical advice.
