A penile prosthesis is a device which can be a treatment option for men with erectile dysfunction in which problem cannot be resolved with medical treatments. It can be malleable or inflatable.
When a man has surgically implanted a pair of malleable rods with the erection chambers of the penis, his penis is always semi-rigid and merely needs to be lifted or adjusted into the erect position to initiate sex. This is the reason why many men today choose inflatable prosthesis, which allows a man to have an erection when he wants it.
The inflatable penile prosthesis has two cylinders, a reservoir, and a pump. Two cylinders are inserted in the penis and connected by tubing to a separate reservoir of fluid which is implanted under the groin muscles and with a pump which is implanted under the loose skin of the scrotal sac between the testicles and also connected to the reservoir.
When a man wants to inflate the prosthesis, he must press the pump which transfers fluid from the reservoir to the cylinder in the penis and inflates them. The penis can be deflated by pressing on a deflation valve at the base of the pump to return fluid back to the reservoir.
A prosthesis is not noticeable and the man could not be embarrassed for example in a public restroom because the small surgical scar is where the bottom of the penis meets the scrotal sac.
The prosthesis makes the penis stiff and thick, similar to a natural erection and it does not change sensation on the skin of the penis or a man's ability to reach orgasm and also ejaculation is not affected. 80%-90% of the men are satisfied with the results of the prosthesis.
The disadvantage is that a penile prosthesis may destroy the natural erection reflex once is put in and if the implant is removed, the man may never again have natural erections.
Possible complications which can occur after penile implants surgery are:
- Infection
- Scar tissue formation
- Erosion
- Mechanical failure
- Uncontrolled bleeding after the surgery which leads to re-operation
If a medical cause of erectile dysfunction is established, some insurance can cover this surgery.
