Erectile dysfunction can affect your ability to have a normal sex life, and more importantly, it can dent your confidence and self-esteem. The inability to get an erection once in a while may not mean that you have ED, but if this is a recurrent problem, you should seek help. Your Erectile Dysfunction Urologist will usually start with a non-medical approach, and if that doesn’t work, medications are an option. One of the advanced treatments for ED is a penile implant, and in this post, we are discussing some essential details.
What exactly is a penile implant?
A penile implant is used to induce an erection. The most common one is an inflatable penile implant, which includes a pump implanted in the scrotum, and with a single push, one can get an erection when necessary. There are also non-inflatable penile implants, which are made of silicone.
How does the implant work?
An inflatable penile implant has three components – two cylinders, a pump, and a reservoir. The pump, which is placed in the scrotum, can be pressed before intercourse. This will transfer fluid to the cylinders from the reservoir, inflating them and causing an erection. The user can have normal intercourse, and the erection will remain in place even after an orgasm. To get rid of the erection, the valve on the pump must be pressed, ensuring the fluid returns to the reservoir. On the contrary, there is no pump in a non-inflatable penile implant. Instead, two silicone rods can be extended to get the desired erection. These implants also ensure the erection is the same even after orgasm.
Other things to know
Typically, penile implants can last for as long as two decades, but with time, you may need a replacement. Many men are often interested in knowing whether using an implant will help increase the size of their penis. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. Also, note that the head of your penis will not be hard as a normal erection as the penile implants are placed in the body of the penis. You may take additional medications as suggested by your doctor. Please note that the procedure comes with a few risks, as with any surgery, and while this is an outpatient procedure, you may want to talk about the pros and cons with your urologist.
Once the penile implant is inserted, you can control when you want an erection.
