Am I a Good Candidate for a Penile Implant?

Everyone deserves to have a healthy, fulfilling sex life. It’s an important part of your self-identity and your relationship with your significant other — but all too often, health issues can get in the way.

Millions of American men have medical conditions that affect their ability to achieve and sustain erections for sexual intercourse. Severe urologic conditions like erectile dysfunction (ED), Peyronie’s disease, or treatment for urologic cancer can leave you with a lackluster sex life. But you don’t have to settle anymore.

Our team at Advanced Urology, with offices in Los Angeles, Culver City, San Pedro, and Redondo Beach, California, specializes in penile prosthesis implants to enhance your sexual performance and your confidence. Available in semi-rigid and inflatable models, penile implants make it easier to get an erection and maintain it for sex.

What penile implants can do

Penile implants work in one of two ways. Semi-rigid implants have flexible rods that you can bend up and down, while inflatable implants have hidden fluid chambers and pumps to move fluid into your penis to create an erection.

Penile prosthesis implants have a high satisfaction rate, with 90-95% of men and their partners saying they’re happy with the results of their procedure.

So, are you a good candidate? In general, our urology team recommends considering a penile prosthesis implant if you’re from 50 to 90 years old and have one or more of the following conditions:

Erectile dysfunction (ED)

ED is a common problem, and it gets even more common with age. While many men find that conservative treatment is enough to improve their symptoms and their sex lives, that’s not the case for everyone.

If you’ve tried medication, penis pumps, and self-injections without success, our team may suggest considering a penile prosthesis implant as a long-term solution for severe ED.

Peyronie’s disease

Peyronie’s disease is a condition that causes plaques of painful scar tissue to form in your penis. It can make your penis curve, which may lead to painful or uncomfortable erections.

A penile implant could be a good treatment option if you have Peyronie’s disease, because the implant may counteract deformity and help you achieve more comfortable erections.

Urologic cancer

Urologic cancers include bladder, colon, penis, and prostate cancer. Treatment for these cancers can affect sexual performance, but a penile implant could be an option for you once you’re done with treatment and are cancer-free.

What penile implants can’t do

Having a penile implant gives you the ability to achieve an erection whenever you want, but it’s important to learn what it can’t do before you make your decision.

Getting a penile implant won’t make your penis larger than it was before surgery, and it won’t make your erection larger either. Some men find that their erections are slightly shorter with penile implants than they were in the past.

Although it’ll be easier to get and maintain an erection that’s strong enough for sex, having a penile implant won’t change your sex drive. If you’re struggling with a low sex drive now, you may need to address it before considering a penile implant.

Since getting a penile implant requires surgery, it’s not the best option for every man. You may not be a good candidate for the procedure if you haven’t tried all the conservative ED treatment options available, or if you have an infection or poorly controlled diabetes.

Penile prosthesis implants give men options. If you have severe ED or a painful condition that’s getting in the way of your sex life, it’s time to find out if an implant is right for you. Contact our team at Advanced Urology online or call one of our offices for an appointment.

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