Penile implants are devices placed inside the penis to allow men with erectile dysfunction (ED) to get an erection. Penile implants are typically recommended after other treatments for ED fail.
The placement of penile implants requires surgery.
There are two main types of penile implants, semirigid and inflatable. Each type of penile implant works differently and has various pros and cons. When choosing a type of penile implant, consider your personal preference and your medical history. Your healthcare provider might suggest one type of design over another based on your age, risk of infection, and health conditions, injuries or medical treatments you’ve had.
Malleable Prostheses
Malleable or semi-rigid prostheses are easier to use; the penis remains rigid and can be directed upwards and forwards with the hand during sexual activity, and downwards or to the sides when sexual intercourse is not desired. These devices can cause certain discomforts, such as when wearing swimwear or engaging in sports.
Inflatable Prostheses
These prostheses have several components. There is a reservoir of sterile fluid that is placed behind the pubis, and a valve that is placed in the scrotum (next to the testicle). When the valve is pressed in one direction, the fluid travels to the devices located inside the penis, resulting in an erection. By pressing the valve in the opposite direction, the fluid returns to the reservoir, the penis becomes flaccid again. In either type of prosthesis, the surgery is relatively painless. The implants are placed inside the cavernous bodies through a small incision in the scrotum and/or above the pubis. Anesthesia can be general, regional, or even local in some cases. In any case, it is considered a low-risk surgery that provides a high degree of satisfaction for those who use these devices and their partners. The surgery is outpatient. The patient leaves the surgery with a urinary catheter that is removed before the first week after the operation, and they can engage in sexual activity 6 weeks after the surgery.
Complications
The main complication is infection, which can occur in 6% of the operated patients. To prevent infection, the patient receives antibiotics before the surgery and continues taking them for a few days afterward. If there is an infection, the implant usually needs to be removed. Infection is more common in diabetic patients, so they will require special care. Rejection of the body to the prosthesis and erosion of the implanted material outside the body occurs in less than 3% of the patients. The mechanism of the inflatable prostheses can eventually fail, requiring the non-functioning part to be replaced or the entire prosthesis to be changed (this happens in less than 1% of the patients). The main problem with prostheses is their cost, which tends to be high.
While penile implants allow men to get an erection, they don’t increase sexual desire or sensation. Penile implants also won’t make your penis any larger than it is at the time of surgery.
On average, penile implants last 20 years. When the implant wears out, it stops working. Your surgeon can revise it, usually by replacing it with a new implant.
Reference:
– Book: “No le tenga miedo al dedo: Todo lo que un hombre debe saber sobre su próstata” Authors: Dr. René Sotelo, Dr. Juan Arriaga, Dr. Inderbir S. Gill. Editorial: VINMA, C.A; 2nd edicion
– https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/penile-implants/about/pac-20384916
– https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/10054-surgical-penile-implants
