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Penile prostheses
Written by Dr David Delvin, GP and family planning specialist
What is a penile prosthesis?
A penile prosthesis is an artificial support for the penis. These supports can be either external or internal.
Internal supports
Most men who have problems getting an erection (erectile dysfunction) can be treated without surgery.
The new oral drugs that are available have helped millions. Sometimes psychotherapy and other non-surgical measures are also helpful. But in a minority of cases, the solution may be to have a support implanted inside the penis.
No one should consider this procedure until the other methods have been considered carefully. It is advisable to start by consulting your GP, who should investigate the possible underlying cause of your erectile dysfunction.
How do penis prostheses work?
There are two main types of penile prosthesis: semi-rigid and inflatable.
They provide some rigidity as well as a certain amount of flexibility: the penis can either be curved downwards in the normal position or put into an erect position for intercourse.
Inflatable
The surgeon puts a little pump inside your scrotum, and you press this when you want to have sex. It sends fluid from the reservoir into the two cylinders so your penis becomes stiff.
After sex, you press a valve and the fluid runs back into the reservoir.
There are several variations of this apparatus which are available to urological surgeons, but they all rely on a system in which the man pumps fluid from a reservoir into the cylinders inside his penis.
The main advantage of this method is that it looks more natural – despite the fact that you will have one or two scars (with luck, not very noticeable ones).
There are also a few disadvantages. For instance, the inflatable prosthesis is quite expensive and it's unlikely the operation will be available on the NHS in your local hospital. Also, this type of surgery is more complex and involves more parts that can go wrong.
As with any operation on the genitals, there is a risk of infection, bruising and bleeding.
Who is suitable for a prosthesis?
What if I don't want surgery and other methods haven't worked?
Vast numbers of men and women are satisfied by other kinds of lovemaking, such as oral sex, use of vibrators and 'finger-play'.
Although you will obviously miss being able to have intercourse yourself, it is possible to derive considerable satisfaction from knowing that you can still love and satisfy your partner.
This method usually consists of two cylinders, a pump and a reservoir. The cylinders, which are placed inside the penis by the surgeon, can be inflated with fluid when you want an erection and deflated after intercourse.
Men who may be suitable for this type of surgery include those who have:
Assuming all the other available have been exhausted, there are other ways to enrich your sex life to make it exciting and enjoyable.
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