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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Illustration of three-piece penile implant 3-piece penile implant
Illustration of two-piece penile implant 2-piece penile implant
Illustration of semirigid penile implant Semirigid penile implant

Penile implants are devices placed inside the penis to allow men with erectile dysfunction (ED) to get an erection. Penile implants are typically recommended after other treatments for ED fail.

There are two main types of penile implants, semirigid and inflatable. Each type of penile implant works differently and has various pros and cons.

The placement of penile implants requires surgery. Before choosing penile implants, make sure you understand what surgery involves, including possible risks, complications and follow-up care.

Why it's done
References
  1. Wein AJ, et al. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?about=true&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6911-9..C2009-1-60786-3--TOP&isbn=978-1-4160-6911-9&uniqId=310232887-6. Accessed June 25, 2013.
  2. Eid JF. What is new for inflatable penile prostheses? Current Opinion in Urology. 2009;19:582.
  3. Montague DK. Penile prosthesis implantation in the era of medical treatment for erectile dysfunction. The Urologic Clinics of North America. 2011;38:217.
  4. Lightfoot AJ, et al. Inflatable penile prostheses: An update. Current Opinion in Urology. 2010;20:459.
  5. CME information: Managing the difficult penile prosthesis patient. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2013;10:893.
  6. Carson CC, et al. Long-term infection outcomes after original antibiotic impregnated inflatable penile prosthesis implants: Up to 7.7 years of followup. The Journal of Urology. 2011;185:614.
  7. Lazarou S. Surgical treatment of erectile dysfunction. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed July 5, 2013.
  8. Castle EP (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. July 17, 2013.
MY00358 Sept. 6, 2013

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