Penile implants are an excellent treatment option for men who have erectile dysfunction. This is a condition that most men silently battle with and prefer to keep under wraps (1). However, the first step towards handling this issue is by openly discussing it. Consequently, a typical penile prosthesis is essentially made up of two malleable rods connected to a cylinder.
These rods are placed within the penile shaft through surgical means. They ensure that the penis remains in a semi-rigid condition until the man requires an erection for sexual activity. In the modern-day, numerous penile implant advantages have come as a result of advancements in implant technology. Thanks to innovations, concealing an implant is much more comfortable.
Key Facts About Natural Erections and Penile Implants
How Do Natural Erections Happen?
There are two chambers within the penis, more commonly known as corpora cavernosa. They run from the glans penis to the inner pelvic region. The sections are essentially a spongy tissue structure and work to amass blood in considerable volume while increasing in size. If you are working or doing any intensive activities, the blood supply to the penis is minimal (2). It only flows to help nourish the tissue.
The difference comes in when you are aroused or stimulated. The brain now sends impulses that allow for hormone secretion. These hormones encourage more blood flow into the penis filling up the spongy tissue completely. In this case, inflow is much higher than the blood flowing out, and hence an erection is achieved. As soon as the brain halts the impulses, the hormones stop being produced, and your penis returns to a flaccid state.
Erections With a Penile Implant
For illustrative purposes, we take an example of a three-piece inflatable penile implant. It has a pair of cylinders placed inside the penis. There is a pump inside the scrotal region that can be inflated. Fluid flows through a tube that connects these two parts. After you squeeze the pump, the liquid finds its way to the pair of cylinders, and an erection is achieved. Afterward, pressing a releasing valve makes the fluid flow back into the pump, which puts back the penis to its normal flaccid state. The best thing about the implant is that the patient feels natural, whether the penis is erect or not (3).
A Comparison Between Natural Erections and Implants
Natural erections are in every way what every man would want for themselves. Your body works as it should, and everything comes naturally. However, for health reasons, one might have to use a penile implant to keep their sex life alive. Implants offer such patients a glimmer of hope that things will get better, especially if they are battling with erectile dysfunction. Likewise, these implants do carry with them some risks, such as:
- Possibility of infection
- Cases of device malfunction
- An internal injury that causes erosion
- Pain after surgery is well managed through various medications.
Penile prostheses are of great benefit for those patients who are unable to sustain and get erections. This could be due to some health issues such as diabetes. Thus, they are durable and easy to use for the patient as well.
Links to Sources Used:
- Erectile Dysfunction https://medlineplus.gov/erectiledysfunction.html
- Physiology of Penile Erection and Pathophysiology of Erectile Dysfunction https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1351051/
- What is a Penile Implant? https://healthcare.utah.edu/menshealth/treatments/penile-implants/