Hydrogen sulphide, the gas responsible for the terrible smell of rotten eggs, has been found to play a role in the biochemical response that leads to an erection.  The discovery may lead to a new medical therapy for Erectile Dysfunction.

In the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Italian researchers showed that hydrogen sulphide is released into the erectile tissues prior to erections occurring.  Current Erectile Dysfunction drugs, such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, target nitric oxide, another mediator in erections.

In some rare cases, men do not respond to the current Erectile Dysfunction drugs which target the nitric oxide pathway.  New medications directed at hydrogen sulphide would hold promise for these patients.