Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Myths About Penile Implants

Exploring and Debunking Some Common Myths About ED and Penile Implants

Hello! The Men’s MD, Dr. McBride, here with another Men’s Health blog article. Today, I want to talk to you about some myths surrounding erectile dysfunction (ED) and penile implants. There are a few myths that I commonly hear from patients, friends, and colleagues about this condition and treatment options that I want to debunk.

1.  Can Your Penis Size Increase?– Whether it’s in a clinic visit or one minute before their procedure, many of my patients ask me if the penile implant, or any other procedure or supplement, can make their penis larger. Unfortunately, the short answer is no. The long answer is a little more complicated. The size of your penis now and at the time of the implant procedure is the size that you have. During the implant procedure, I measure the current penis size and use this measurement to select a penile implant device with the corresponding size and length. If a patient received a 3-piece inflatable implant device such as the Boston Scientific AMS 700™ Inflatable Penile Prothesis, includes a pair of cylinders implanted in the penis, a pump placed inside the scrotum, and a reservoir of saline placed in the lower abdomen. The AMS 700 LGX inflatable device has cylinders designed to expand in girth and length (1,2).  Fortunately, the controlled expansion of the penile implant’s cylinders is designed to allow you to achieve an erection with the rigidity and size available to you (1).
2.  Can Your Penis Shrink? – Many patients who have erectile dysfunction wonder if their condition or the penile implant will make their penis smaller. The idea of a penile implant shrinking your penis is a myth. Loss of penile length is the number one concern among men with ED (4) and a significant concern for me as I treat my patients.  When I put in an implant, I am measuring the length that I can put into the natural space that is available internally, and I am not shortening that length by any amount. Men with erectile dysfunction may have already experienced length loss during their disease before having an implant placed.  Penile shrinkage in both length and girth sometimes occurs when patients don’t have good erectile function, and patients don’t realize that until they have an implant. With an implant, patients can have an erection whenever they want it, and it may become apparent just how much size they’ve actually lost. 
3. Is Treating ED with an Implant Invasive? I think I get this question more from colleagues and people in the medical community than from patients. There seems to be an idea that you must fillet the whole penis open to put in an implant. This is a myth. In fact, we may never have to make an incision on the penis at all. The implant can be inserted through either a small incision down in the wrinkles of the scrotum or a small incision in the lower abdomen called the pubic symphysis area or the general area where you find your pubic bone. In either scenario, no incision on the penis is required, and all components of the implant can be inserted into the body through this incision. In rare cases, men who have significant penile deformities or fibrosis, such as Peyronie’s disease, may require some additional surgery out on the shaft of the penis, but this a sub-population of patients. I tell my patients that it is possible to come in and go home the same day, and within about a week to 10 days, you are back doing routine/normal daily activities. When most people hear this information, they realize their perception of what a penile implant surgery involves is much worse than the reality. The reality is that 95% of AMS 700 patients are satisfied with sexual intercourse* (5).

Thank you for reading through another one of my blog articles. If you'd like to learn more about penile implants, please visit TheMensMD.com or EDCure.org.

*Based on a study of 194 AMS 700 Penile Implant recipients.

References

1. Data on file with Boston Scientific.

2. Negro CL, Paradiso M, Rocca A, et al. Implantation of AMS 700 LGX penile prosthesis preserves penile length without the need for penile lengthening procedures. Asian J Androl. 2016 Jan-Feb;18(1):114-7.
3. Sellers T, Dineen M, Salem E, et al. Vacuum preparation, optimization of cylinder length, and postoperative daily inflation reduces complaints of shortened penile length following implantation of inflatable penile prosthesis. Adv in Sex Med. 2013 Jan;3(91):14-8.
4. Kamel I, Gadalla A, Ghanem H, et al. Comparing penile measurements in normal and erectile dysfunction subjects. J Sex Med. 2009 Aug;6(8):2305-10.
5. Otero JR, Cruz CR, Gómez BG, et al. Comparison of the patient and partner satisfaction with 700CX and Titan penile prostheses. Asian J Androl. 2017 May-Jun;19(3):321-325.

EDCure.org is a website owned by Boston Scientific.

Caution: U.S. Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.

J. Abram McBride, MD is a paid consultant of Boston Scientific.

The information provided in this article is based on the experiences and opinions of Dr. McBride. It does not represent the opinion or recommendation of Boston Scientific.

This material is for informational purposes only and not meant for medical diagnosis. This information does not constitute medical or legal advice, and Boston Scientific makes no representation regarding the medical benefits included in this information. Boston Scientific strongly recommends that you consult with your physician on all matters pertaining to your health.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: These materials are intended to describe common clinical considerations and procedural steps for the use of referenced technologies but may not be appropriate for every patient or case. Decisions surrounding patient care depend on the physician’s professional judgment in consideration of all available information for the individual case.

Boston Scientific (BSC) does not promote or encourage the use of its devices outside their approved labeling. Case studies are not necessarily representative of clinical outcomes in all cases as individual results may vary.

Results from case studies are not necessarily predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary.

All images are the property of Boston Scientific. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Your doctor is your best source for information on the risks and benefits of the AMS 700™ Inflatable Penile Prosthesis. Talk to your doctor for a complete listing of risks, warnings and important safety information.

The AMS 700™ Inflatable Penile Prosthesis is intended for use in the treatment of male erectile dysfunction (impotence). Implanting a penile prosthesis will damage or destroy any remaining ability to have a natural erection, as well as make other treatment options (oral medications, vacuum devices or injections) impossible.

Men with diabetes, spinal cord injuries or skin infections may have an increased risk of infection. Implantation may result in penile curvature or scarring. Some AMS 700 devices contain an antibiotic (InhibiZone™ Antibiotic Surface Treatment). The device is not suitable for patients who are allergic to the antibiotics contained within the device (rifampin, minocycline HCl or other tetracyclines) or those who have systemic lupus, these patients should use one of the devices that do not contain InhibiZone antibiotic surface treatment.

Potential risks may include: device malfunction/failure leading to additional surgery, device migration potentially leading to exposure through the tissue, wearing away/loss of tissue (device/tissue erosion) infection, unintended-inflation of the device and pain/soreness.

©2024 Boston Scientific Corporation. All rights reserved. URO-1784802-AA FEB 2024