MMA Fighter Waylon Lowe Claims Pleasure Gel Damaged His Penis
American mixed martial artist Waylon Lowe is suing a pleasure-enhancing gel, claiming that it has damaged his penis. He allegedly sustained "life-changing" injuries after using Kama Sutra Pleasure Balm Prolonging Gel.
According to the $14.99 gel's Web site, it is "Designed to make lovemaking last longer, this uniquely formulated emollient for men imparts a tingling, slightly numbing sensation that helps him preserve his powers into the night. Pleasure Balm also invites the lips with a cool mint flavour."
But as the 32-year-old MMA fighter found out, the Pleasure Balm was far from pleasurable.
He is suing the product's California-based manufacturer and The Mood shop, a South Street sex shop where he allegedly bought the gel, for more than $50,000 in damages.
Lowe claims in the complaint he filed in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court on May 14 that he had used the pleasure gel previously without problem. He had applied the gel on September 1 when he was about to make love with his fiancée. But the fiancée interrupted their intercourse to attend to their 3-year-old daughter.
When the fiancée returned, Lowe said that he "began to experience excruciating pain and pressure in his penis. He removed the condom and his penis swelled significantly. He sought emergency medical treatment and follow-up care thereafter."
The lawsuit, which was obtained by philly.com, claims Lowe suffered "catastrophic and permanent damage," including penile scarring, loss of sensation and function, nerve and tissue damage, mental anguish, lost wages and earning capacity, loss of life's pleasures, and humiliation.
He is accusing the defendants of negligence and product liability.
"This is a very private, but very significant loss for a man who is very vital in so many other aspects," his attorney Thomas R. Kline was quoted by the Web site as saying. "This is a man who literally makes his living avoiding injury; he knows how to protect himself.
"Yet he wasn't provided with the most basic, simple instructions to protect himself from this product. If it could happen to him, it could happen to anyone."
The manufacturer of Kama Sutra says that the complaint was "flabbergasting" because they have been offering the gel for more than 40 years without incident
"The active ingredient [benzocaine] is quite common," Marla Lee, president of the Kama Sutra Co. And Kamsut Inc. told philly.com. "It's used in children't teething products, so it's probably pretty safe if it's used for children."
On the other hand, The Mood Shop owner, Stuart Schlaffman, said that they have removed the said product from their shelves since being served with the lawsuit.