Prosthetic Implants for Erectile Dysfunction
April 7, 2009 by admin
Filed under Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is no incurable disease, and majority of the sufferers of the problem get cured by erectile dysfunction drugs that have flooded the markets and are advertised round the clock. There are also natural herbal remedies which have helped millions of men to get rid of the erectile dysfunction problem, and these products do not have any side effects.
For some men with severe cases of erectile dysfunction, most likely due to some medical conditions or previous surgery, having a penile implant becomes the only alternative.
When the treatment of prosthetic implants became available first, everybody was not happy about the idea of an inanimate object nestling inside the body. There was also the added risk of infection and breaking of the implant. However with the evolution of medical science, like other erectile dysfunction treatments, the whole procedure of penile implants has also substantially improved.
Prosthetic implants can be malleable or inflatable. The former are a pair of rods, semi-rigid in nature. The latter has an inner core made of metal or plastic, surrounded by a less harder outer covering, and may of may not be adjustable. Either of these can be planted into the penis to treat erectile dysfunction.
These implants are effective as a remedy for erectile dysfunction and the surgical procedure is not complicated. One drawback is the fact that it makes the erection sort of permanent, keeping the organ permanently rigid. The penis is never fully flaccid, even while managing its other functions.
As an erectile dysfunction aid, the inflatable implant is more popular. In a three piece inflatable implant, a reservoir with fluid is placed under the abdominal wall, a pump and release valve are placed inside the scrotum, and two inflatable cylinders are placed inside the penis. When a person needs to have sex, the fluid is pumped into the cylinders to get an erection, by squeezing the pump. After the function is over, the valve is released to drain the fluid back.
The two piece inflatable implant also works the same way. The only difference is that the pump and the fluid reservoir are a single unit. The method, in general, is considered a safe erectile dysfunction treatment. According to the reports from the Department of Urology of Cornell University, infections have been reported only in 2% to 3% of cases, since all units of the implant are coated with antibiotic compounds.
Improved surgical procedures and better models of implants have improved the efficacy of penile implants. Doctors inform the patients of the advantages and downsides of all models and let them choose the type of implant based on personal preference, health condition, and past medical history. As erectile dysfunction aids, prosthetic implants are believed to work well, since the satisfaction rate of patients is high.
However, it is important to note that most common cases of erectile dysfunction can be treated by using natural and herbal treatments which do not have any side effects.