Penile implants can restore erectile function

Penile implants — What to expect and how to prepare

First introduced in the 1970s, penile implants were the most reliable treatment for erectile dysfunction until the 1980s when medications injected into the penis became available. In the 1990s, oral agents such as sildenafil (Viagra) were introduced. These medications have since become the most popular erectile dysfunction treatment, but they don't work for all men with erectile problems. About two-thirds of men with ED will respond to oral medications — but some men can't take them, or the medications don't produce satisfactory results. For these men, penile implants are an additional option.

Penile implants require complex and permanent surgery, and there is a risk of infection and a risk that the device will malfunction. But, since these devices were first introduced, new materials, designs and surgical procedures have greatly improved outcomes for penile implants. Most men who have the procedure and their partners say they're satisfied with the results.

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