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Why it's done

By Mayo Clinic staff

For most men, erectile dysfunction can be successfully treated with medications or use of a penis pump (vacuum constriction device). Penile implants may be an option to consider if you can't get an erection sufficient for sex with these other methods or if other methods cause undesirable side effects.

Penile implants are also used to treat some cases of Peyronie's disease — a condition that causes scarring inside the penis, leading to bent, painful erections. For Peyronie's disease, penile implant surgery is considered only when penis curvature is severe and other treatments have failed.

References
  1. Montauge DK. Prosthetic surgery for erectile dysfunction. In: Wein AJ, et al. Walsh: Campbell's Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/119551792-3/801941680/1445/26.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-7216-0798-6..50025-X--cesec13_1966. Accessed Dec 23, 2010.
  2. Eid JF. What is new for inflatable penile prostheses? Current Opinion in Urology. 2009;19:582.
  3. Erectile dysfunction. Cornell University Sexual Medicine Program. http://www.cornellurology.com/sexualmedicine/ed/implant.shtml. Accessed Dec. 23, 2010.
  4. Wolter CE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 18, 2010.
MY00358 Feb. 25, 2011

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