Urology Centers of Alabama since 2002 has consistently been one of the top five robotic centers in the world.
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Urology Centers   >   Conditions & Treatments

Penile Prothesis

The treatment of erectile dysfunction using a penile implant (or penile prosthesis) represents a very effective treatment option. In fact, it is well known that the degree of patient satisfaction with an inflatable penile prosthesis is higher than the degree of patient satisfaction with any other treatment option for erectile dysfunction. Penile prostheses are safe. They have been used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction for many years and the devices are continually being improved. There are several different types of penile prostheses and your prosthetic urologist will help you make the decision as to which implant is best for you.

A semi-rigid penile prosthesis (SRPP) is the simplest type of penile prosthesis. This device takes the form of a malleable, bendable, rod. Two of these rods are placed into the penis at the time of surgery. The devices are simple; their ability to produce a rigid erection that allows intercourse is well documented. The risk of infection and significant bleeding are low. The main drawback to the SRPP is that it is always in the “rigid” condition. The SRPP is bent into the down position when a man is not attempting intercourse, and then is bent upwards into the straight position to allow penetration and intercourse. It is very easy to use the SRPP and for some men this represents the best option.

The inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) is the most commonly used device at Urology Centers of Alabama. The 3 piece IPP has two inflatable cylinders that are placed into the penis; a pump that is shaped much like the end of your thumb is placed into the scrotum, and a reservoir that holds sterile saline is placed into the abdomen. Almost always, all three of these components are placed through a single incision that is either in the scrotum or just above the base of the penis. The incisions are about 2-3 inches in length and are sutured using stitches that will dissolve on their own and do not have to be removed. The main benefit of the IPP is that it provides the most natural erection for the patient and his partner. In the deflated state the penis is soft, and when the patient desires an erection he simply compresses the pump that is in the scrotum causing fluid to move from the reservoir into the inflatable cylinders. This produces the rigid erection. A penile implant is not visible to anyone else; it is a completely contained device within the patient’s body. The presence of the penile implant does not change urination or sensation or orgasm/ejaculation. The surgery to place an IPP takes around 45 minutes. Patients are most often admitted only for a single night though occasionally we will perform a penile implant and send the patient home the same day. The risk of infection is very low, and the IPP is actually impregnated with antibiotics to further reduce the potential for infection. The risk of severe bleeding is less than 1% in men who are not taking blood thinners. A prescription for antibiotics and pain medicine is given to the patient at the time of discharge. A patient would need to be off of work for around 1-2 weeks depending on the kind of work they do, with the patient who is involved in more strenuous work activities having a longer period off of work. Your prosthetic surgeon will help you decide how long you should be off of work following placement of an inflatable penile implant. We allow the patients to begin use of the inflatable implant at about 5-6 weeks after surgery though we instruct the patient in how to inflate/deflate the device starting at 2-3 weeks after surgery.

For the man with erectile dysfunction that has not responded to non-surgical treatment options, the penile implant represents a very effective treatment. In the past urologists felt that a patient would have to try every non-surgical treatment option before moving on to a penile implant. This is outdated thinking, and the most experienced urologists and thought leaders in the field of prosthetic urology no longer support this concept. While we would always want the patient to try a non-surgical treatment option first (for example, oral medications) we no longer require patients to try one non-surgical option after another before moving on to a penile implant. The safety and efficacy and patient satisfaction with penile implants is so high, we recognize that it is entirely reasonable for a man to decide upon the surgical treatment of erectile dysfunction with a penile implant when he feels comfortable in doing so.

The surgeons and nurses at Urology Centers of Alabama are committed to providing a high level of care to the man with erectile dysfunction. The appropriate use of penile prostheses represents an important treatment option for these men. We encourage men with erectile dysfunction to ask their urologist about penile implant therapy, and we will be happy to answer your questions and provide printed information about these devices.