Boston Medical Group

Last updated
Boston Medical Group
Company typePrivate
Industry Male impotence, Men's Sexual Health, Healthcare
Founded1997
Headquarters La Mesa, California
Number of employees
150 (2008)

Boston Medical Group is a network of medical offices sharing research information and treatment methods for erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.

Contents

The company opened its first office in Mexico in Guadalajara, Jalisco on 4 July 1997. [1] In 2006, due to differences in visions, the shareholders of Boston Medical Group decided to part ways. This decision resulted in the creation of two entirely separate entities, each with its own management, operations, marketing, advertising, and medical protocols, yet both operating under the shared "Boston Medical Group" brand name.

As per 2023, The U.S. operations of Boston Medical Group has pivoted to primarily offering telemedicine services within the country. In contrast, the international division operates in several countries, maintaining over 100 offices in locations such as Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Spain. [2]

Boston Medical Group (US) Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction, Premature Ejaculation & Hormone Therapy

The office's primary treatment, called intracavernous pharmacotherapy (ICP), consists of administering an injection of a vasodilator drug by inserting a hypodermic needle directly into the penis, which increases blood flow, and causes an erection in minutes in many patients. [3]

ICP treatment has been used to help create and maintain erections in patients who do not respond to more mainstream medications or are prohibited from taking these drugs because of a heart condition, diabetes or blood pressure since ICP treatments are localized and do not typically interact with other systemic medications.

Intracavernous pharmacotherapy can be used in patients with a wide variety of ailments wherein other medications might not be as effective. For example, a study showed that over seventy percent of patients with a spinal cord injury responded positively to intracavernous pharmacotherapy and were able to achieve an erection. [4]

In addition to ICP, Boston Medical Group also offers treatments in hormone replacement therapy (HRT), specifically for low testosterone (Low T), a sublingual form of the well-known drug Viagra which is dissolved under the tongue and quickly enters the blood stream and a variety of treatment programs designed to specifically address low libido, ED, and premature ejaculation.

Notable Physicians

Many of the physicians employed by Boston Medical Group themselves have won individual awards, including the Marie and Oscar Randolph award, [5] the KCMS Robert H. Hume award for excellence in surgical research [6] and the Physician's Recognition Award for Continuing Medical Education by the American Medical Association, [7] among others. These awards were not won during their employment at Boston Medical Group.

Advertising

The company's marketing campaign, produced by Boston Men's Health Center Inc. (the management and marketing company of which Boston Medical Group is a client), has included billboards, newspaper ads, radio commercials, and TV advertisements and often utilize the "Sex for Life" [8] Also, the company ran a radio campaign between 2007 and 2009 featuring a character named "Andrew" [9] In his signature, common-man style, he recounts his previous battle with erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation before visiting Boston Medical Group and touts the group as a viable alternative. Currently, the company is running a radio campaign featuring the voice of Peter Scolari.

Coverage in Media

On April 7, 2011, the Los Angeles Times published an exposé about Boston Male Medical Group's sales and compensation practices. The article was titled "Clinic settles lawsuits but still faces scrutiny over erectile dysfunction injections" and subtitled "Boston Medical Group doctors get bonuses to promote the drug injections. Some patients say they suffered from priapism and permanent damage because they were not informed of the risks." [10]

After admitting to not keeping proper records in 2001 and 2002, one doctor at an office location in Manhattan was placed on probation for five years by the New York state Health Department, and was no longer allowed to treat patients with erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and other sexual problems. [11]

John Henry Howard v. Boston Medical Group trial of September 2009 was successfully appealed in favor of Boston Medical Group and decided on July 12, 2011 by the Georgia Court of Appeals noting that proper instruction was ignored by the patient and that Boston Medical Group acted correctly to ensure proper patient care. [12]

Boston Men's Health Center Inc. which responsible for advertising and marketing of Boston Medical Group was incorrectly named in this lawsuit in the State of Georgia as is also pointed out by the Georgia Court of Appeals. Boston Men's Health Center operates as a management company for the network of individual clinics and collects a management fee from their client, Boston Medical Group, for their management services. [13]

Related Research Articles

Erectile dysfunction (ED), also referred to as impotence, is a form of sexual dysfunction in males characterized by the persistent or recurring inability to achieve or maintain a penile erection with sufficient rigidity and duration for satisfactory sexual activity. It is the most common sexual problem in males and can cause psychological distress due to its impact on self-image and sexual relationships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sildenafil</span> Drug for erectile dysfunction and hypertension

Sildenafil, sold under the brand name Viagra, among others, is a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. It is also sometimes used off-label for the treatment of certain symptoms in secondary Raynaud's phenomenon. It is unclear if it is effective for treating sexual dysfunction in females. It can be taken orally, intravenously, or through the sublingual route. Onset when taken orally is typically within twenty minutes and lasts for about two hours.

Premature ejaculation (PE) is a male sexual dysfunction that occurs when a male expels semen soon after beginning sexual activity, and with minimal penile stimulation. It has also been called early ejaculation, rapid ejaculation, rapid climax, premature climax and (historically) ejaculatio praecox. There is no uniform cut-off defining "premature", but a consensus of experts at the International Society for Sexual Medicine endorsed a definition of around one minute after penetration. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) applies a cut-off of 15 seconds from the beginning of sexual intercourse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tadalafil</span> Medication used to treat erectile dysfunction

Tadalafil, sold under the brand name Cialis among others, is a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and pulmonary arterial hypertension. It is taken by mouth. Onset is typically within half an hour and the duration is up to 36 hours.

Sexual dysfunction is difficulty experienced by an individual or partners during any stage of normal sexual activity, including physical pleasure, desire, preference, arousal, or orgasm. The World Health Organization defines sexual dysfunction as a "person's inability to participate in a sexual relationship as they would wish". This definition is broad and is subject to many interpretations. A diagnosis of sexual dysfunction under the DSM-5 requires a person to feel extreme distress and interpersonal strain for a minimum of six months. Sexual dysfunction can have a profound impact on an individual's perceived quality of sexual life. The term sexual disorder may not only refer to physical sexual dysfunction, but to paraphilias as well; this is sometimes termed disorder of sexual preference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vardenafil</span> Chemical compound

Vardenafil, sold under the brand name Levitra among others, is a medication that is used for treating erectile dysfunction. It is a PDE5 inhibitor. It is taken by mouth.

Sex therapy is a therapeutic strategy for the improvement of sexual function and treatment of sexual dysfunction. This includes dysfunctions such as premature ejaculation and delayed ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, lack of sexual interest or arousal, and painful sex ; as well as problems imposed by atypical sexual interests (paraphilias), gender dysphoria, highly overactive libido or hypersexuality, a lack of sexual confidence, and recovering from sexual abuse ; and also includes sexual issues related to aging, illness, or disability.

Sexual medicine or psychosexual medicine as defined by Masters and Johnsons in their classic Textbook of Sexual Medicine, is "that branch of medicine that focuses on the evaluation and treatment of sexual disorders, which have a high prevalence rate." Examples of disorders treated with sexual medicine are erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism, and prostate cancer. Sexual medicine often uses a multidisciplinary approach involving physicians, mental health professionals, social workers, and sex therapists. Sexual medicine physicians often approach treatment with medicine and surgery, while sex therapists often focus on behavioral treatments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prostatectomy</span> Surgical removal of all or part of the prostate gland

Prostatectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the prostate gland. This operation is done for benign conditions that cause urinary retention, as well as for prostate cancer and for other cancers of the pelvis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phentolamine</span> An α-adrenergic antagonist medication

Phentolamine, sold under the brand name Regitine among others, is a reversible nonselective α-adrenergic antagonist.

Delayed ejaculation (DE) describes a man's inability or persistent difficulty in achieving orgasm, despite typical sexual desire and sexual stimulation. Generally, a man can reach orgasm within a few minutes of active thrusting during sexual intercourse, whereas a man with delayed ejaculation either does not have orgasms at all or cannot have an orgasm until after prolonged intercourse which might last for 30–45 minutes or more. Delayed ejaculation is closely related to anorgasmia.

Prostaglandin E<sub>1</sub> Erectile dysfunction medication

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) is a naturally occurring prostaglandin and is also used as a medication (alprostadil).

Venous leak, also called venogenic erectile dysfunction and penile venous insufficiency, is one category of vasculogenic impotence — a cause of erectile dysfunction in males. It affects all ages, being particularly awkward in young men. Much about venous leaks has not reached a consensus among the medical community, and many aspects of the condition, particularly its treatment strategies, are controversial. The prevalence of the condition is still unknown, although some sources claim it to be a common cause of erectile dysfunction.

Trimix is a prescription combination drug containing alprostadil, papaverine, and phentolamine. It is used to treat erectile dysfunction.

An intracavernousinjection is an injection into the base of the penis. This injection site is often used to administer medications to check for or treat erectile dysfunction in adult men. The more common medications administered in this manner include Caverject, Trimix, Bimix, and Quadmix. These medications are all types of vasodilators and cause tumescence within 15 minutes. Common side effects include priapism, bruising, fibrosis, Peyronie's disease, and pain.

Postorgasmic illness syndrome (POIS) is a syndrome in which human males have chronic physical and cognitive symptoms following ejaculation. The symptoms usually onset within seconds, minutes, or hours, and last for up to a week. The cause and prevalence are unknown; it is considered a rare disease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dapoxetine</span> Medication used to treat premature ejaculation

Dapoxetine, marketed as Priligy, among others, is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used for the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE) in men 18–64 years old. Dapoxetine works by inhibiting the serotonin transporter, increasing serotonin's action at the postsynaptic cleft, and as a consequence promoting ejaculatory delay. As a member of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) family, dapoxetine was initially created as an antidepressant. However, unlike other SSRIs, dapoxetine is absorbed and eliminated rapidly in the body. Its fast-acting property makes it suitable for the treatment of PE, but not as an antidepressant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronald Virag</span> French cardiovascular surgeon

Ronald Virag is a French cardiovascular surgeon who specialises in andrology, the study of the male reproductive system. After training in general and cardiovascular surgery at Paris University, he shifted his focus to the study of erectile dysfunction, which has been his primary area of study since 1978. In 1981, he founded a private institute in France dedicated to the clinical study of erectile dysfunction and developed early programs using intracavernosal drugs to treat the condition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sexuality after spinal cord injury</span> Aspect of human sexuality

Although spinal cord injury (SCI) often causes sexual dysfunction, many people with SCI are able to have satisfying sex lives. Physical limitations acquired from SCI affect sexual function and sexuality in broader areas, which in turn has important effects on quality of life. Damage to the spinal cord impairs its ability to transmit messages between the brain and parts of the body below the level of the lesion. This results in lost or reduced sensation and muscle motion, and affects orgasm, erection, ejaculation, and vaginal lubrication. More indirect causes of sexual dysfunction include pain, weakness, and side effects of medications. Psycho-social causes include depression and altered self-image. Many people with SCI have satisfying sex lives, and many experience sexual arousal and orgasm. People with SCI may employ a variety of adaptations to help carry on their sex lives healthily, by focusing on different areas of the body and types of sexual acts. Neural plasticity may account for increases in sensitivity in parts of the body that have not lost sensation, so people often find newly sensitive erotic areas of the skin in erogenous zones or near borders between areas of preserved and lost sensation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ro (company)</span> American telehealth company

Ro is an American telehealth company that diagnoses patients, and subsequently prescribes and delivers treatments. The company is headquartered in New York City.

References

  1. ↑ "Boston es Salud – Boston Medical Group" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  2. ↑ "Ofrecen la solucion a problemas masculinos". El Norte (in Spanish). Monterrey, Mexico, Spain and Australia. 1998-07-14.
  3. ↑ "Where's Woody?". New York . 2002-07-08.
  4. ↑ Vasoactive intracavernous pharmacotherapy for the treatment of erectile impotence in men with spinal cord injury, from BioMedSearch
  5. ↑ "Boston Medical Group Tysons Corner - Erectile Dysfunction Clinic - Premature Ejaculation Treatment". Archived from the original on 2010-09-26. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
  6. ↑ "Boston Medical Group Detroit - Erectile Dysfunction Clinic - Premature Ejaculation Treatment". Archived from the original on 2010-09-26. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
  7. ↑ "Boston Medical Group Tampa - Erectile Dysfunction Clinic - Premature Ejaculation Treatment". Archived from the original on 2010-12-12. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
  8. ↑ Morse, Rob (2002-01-04). "Berkeley before, Berkeley after and all between (No comment dept.)". San Francisco Chronicle .
  9. ↑ McGrath, John (2008-09-17). "Seahawks looking at character through an 0-2 lens". The News Tribune . Tacoma, WA. A radio commercial — I'm hearing it almost as often as that creepy Andrew from the Boston Medical Group...
  10. ↑ Zarembo, Alan (2011-04-07). "Clinic settles lawsuits but still faces scrutiny over erectile dysfunction injections". Los Angeles Times.
  11. ↑ "Sex Doc in Rise and Fall - Bad Erection Injection". New York Post . 2004-11-12.
  12. ↑ John Henry Howard v. Boston Men's Health Center, Inc Overturned
  13. ↑ John Henry Howard v. Boston Men's Health Center, Inc
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