The penile prosthesis is a device that is placed inside the penis in order to help the man achieve erection and have successful sexual intercourse. It is a therapeutic option that Urology specialists indicate to those patients who have tried all other therapies (oral, transurethral or intracavernous medications, shock waves, etc.) without sufficient success.
Types of penile prostheses
There are two types of penile prostheses:
- Malleable or semi-rigid penile prostheses are composed of two cylinders, which are inserted inside the two corpora cavernosa, in order to achieve satisfactory penile erections. These cylinders are always maintained in a rigid state, but can be molded to remain in a comfortable position when performing normal day-to-day activities (work, sports, etc.).
- Inflatable penile prostheses are composed of cylinders that are connected to a pump system and a reservoir. Each time the patient wants to achieve an erection, he presses the pump and the solution placed inside the reservoir ‘inflates’ the cylinders located inside the corpora cavernosa. Once sexual intercourse is completed, the man presses the pump again and the liquid flows back into the reservoir and the erection subsides. Being a more complex device, it may present more complications, but its great advantage lies in its excellent aesthetic result.
With both prostheses, ejaculation and orgasm are not affected at all after surgery. The surgical procedure to place a penile prosthesis lasts approximately 1 hour. The patient can resume his daily activities a few days after surgery and can begin to have sexual intercourse after one month.
The satisfaction rate of this solution for erectile dysfunction is over 90% for both patients and their partners.