Prosthetic Urology FAQs

Penile implants are contraindicated in patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, active infections, and certain psychological conditions, as these factors significantly increase the risk of prosthetic infection and other complications¹. Patients must be carefully selected through comprehensive evaluation to ensure optimal outcomes and minimize post-operative complications².

Inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) surgery typically does not add penile length; in fact, some men report a slight decrease in length after the procedure. Length restoration or modest gains are only possible in complex cases using high-risk surgical techniques.

Penile prostheses are effective for treating erectile dysfunction, but they come with risks such as infection, mechanical failure, and potential dissatisfaction due to reduced penile length. Surgery is required, and some patients may need future revisions or replacements.

Inflatable and non-inflatable penile implants are surgical treatments for erectile dysfunction, offering reliable, natural-feeling erections when other therapies fail. Inflatable models allow on-demand rigidity, while semi-rigid rods provide a permanently firm penis that can be positioned manually.

Yes, men with a penile implant can get an erection. The implant replaces the function of natural erectile tissue, allowing rigidity sufficient for sexual activity.

Penile implants are designed to restore erectile function, not increase penis size, and most men do not experience a significant gain in length. In fact, some men report a perceived or actual decrease in length following standard implantation.

Thanks to modern technology, most women cannot tell if a man has a penile implant, especially during sexual activity or visual inspection, particularly with inflatable types.

A penile prosthesis is a surgically implanted device that helps men with erectile dysfunction achieve an erection. It mimics the natural erectile function either through inflatable cylinders or a bendable rod inside the penis.

Penile implants are typically considered for men with erectile dysfunction (ED) who have not responded to or are not suitable for less invasive treatments, or who prefer a definitive solution.

A penile implant is a medical device surgically placed inside the penis to help men with erectile dysfunction (ED) achieve an erection when other treatments haven’t worked. It offers a long-term, reliable solution for sexual function.

According to the 2025 EAU Guidelines on Sexual and Reproductive Health, massage is not recognized or recommended as an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction¹. The guidelines only mention massage in the context of facilitating drug distribution during certain medical procedures, not as a therapeutic intervention for ED².

The 2025 EAU Guidelines on Sexual and Reproductive Health do not specifically recommend any natural drinks for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED).¹ Current evidence-based recommendations focus on addressing underlying risk factors and medical treatments rather than natural drinks.²

Erections that disappear too quickly (detumescence) are often caused by underlying vascular issues, psychological factors, or medication side effects, and can be effectively treated with various therapies including oral medications, injections, or penile implants in severe cases.¹,²

According to the 2025 EAU Guidelines, while premature ejaculation prevalence remains stable across age groups, other ejaculatory disorders such as delayed ejaculation become more common with advancing age. Men with erectile dysfunction, which increases with age, often experience concurrent ejaculatory problems that can affect sexual satisfaction.

Erectile dysfunction can affect men at any age, but its prevalence increases significantly with advancing age, with approximately 40% of men experiencing some degree of erectile dysfunction by age 40 and over 70% by age 70.¹ ² Men under 50 years with erectile dysfunction should be evaluated for cardiovascular disease risk, as it may be an early warning sign of underlying vascular problems.³

According to the 2025 EAU Guidelines, lifestyle modifications and first-line treatments should be attempted before considering penile implants, which provide the highest satisfaction rates (92-100%) for restoring erectile firmness when natural approaches fail.¹²

Inability to maintain an erection during sex is defined as erectile dysfunction (ED), which can result from various physical and psychological factors including cardiovascular issues, diabetes, or anxiety.¹ When other treatments fail, penile implants offer a highly effective solution with satisfaction rates of 92-100% for patients.²

Penile implants are considered the most effective treatment for erectile dysfunction when other therapies have failed, with satisfaction rates exceeding 90% among both patients and their partners.¹ ² ³

Penile girth may decrease with age due to various physiological changes and risk factors, including vascular conditions and hormonal changes¹. While the 2025 EAU Guidelines don't specifically address normal age-related girth changes, they recognize that penile implants can restore both function and girth in men with erectile dysfunction².

Perceived smaller erect penis size can result from various factors including obesity, underlying medical conditions, or psychological concerns, with penile implants offering a potential solution for men with erectile dysfunction who experience penile shortening.¹,²

Erectile dysfunction (ED) can be caused by various physical and psychological factors including vascular problems, medication side effects, or anxiety, with treatment options ranging from lifestyle changes to penile implants for severe cases.¹ ²

While the 2025 EAU Guidelines do not directly address dehydration's impact on erectile function or penile size, they emphasize that erectile dysfunction has multiple causes including vascular factors¹, which could theoretically be influenced by hydration status, though implants remain a highly effective solution for persistent erectile issues regardless of cause².

Improving penile nerve function may involve multiple approaches including penile rehabilitation techniques with PDE5 inhibitors and intracavernous injections of platelet-rich plasma that can stimulate angiogenesis and nerve recovery¹, though evidence shows limited effectiveness of rehabilitation alone for spontaneous recovery².

Penile atrophy is primarily addressed through penile prosthesis implantation when associated with erectile dysfunction¹, while non-surgical approaches like penile traction therapy may help with penile shortening in other conditions². The 2025 EAU Guidelines do not support hormonal therapies for increasing penile size in adult men³.

Penile implants represent the third-line treatment for erectile dysfunction, with modern three-piece inflatable prostheses demonstrating high efficacy rates (>90%), excellent durability, and significant improvement in patient and partner satisfaction.¹,²

Based on the 2025 EAU Guidelines on Sexual and Reproductive Health, intraoperative erections can occur during urological procedures, and specific pharmacological agents are sometimes used to manage these events¹. While not directly addressed as a common anesthesia side effect, the guidelines acknowledge that certain medications may be used to prevent or treat unwanted erections during surgery².

According to the 2025 EAU Guidelines, damaged penile blood vessels causing erectile dysfunction generally cannot be directly repaired, but treatment options include medications, low-intensity shockwave therapy for mild cases, and penile implants for severe vascular damage.¹,²

Rigicon offers two advanced penile prosthesis lines: the Infla10® inflatable prosthesis with 96.4% one-year and 94.0% three-year survival rates from revision surgery, and the Rigi10 malleable prosthesis with exceptional 99.2% three-year survival rates and innovative six-width sizing options for optimal anatomical customization.

Erections may fade quickly due to vascular, neurological, or psychological factors that affect the complex mechanisms maintaining penile rigidity¹. When conservative treatments fail to provide sustainable erections, penile implants offer a highly effective solution with satisfaction rates exceeding 90% according to the 2025 EAU Guidelines².

The 2025 EAU Guidelines on Sexual and Reproductive Health do not specify an average duration for erections, though they note that functional erections should achieve at least 60% rigidity recorded on the tip of the penis lasting for ≥ 10 minutes during nocturnal testing¹.

According to the 2025 EAU Guidelines, penile prosthesis implantation does not typically increase penile length, with most patients (72%) reporting a subjective decrease in penile length despite no statistically significant difference in measured stretched penile length.¹ ²

Insurance coverage for penile implant surgery varies by provider and policy, but is generally available for patients with erectile dysfunction who have not responded to less-invasive treatments¹. Coverage typically requires documentation of medical necessity and prior authorization².

Yes, men can typically experience orgasms after penile implant surgery as the procedure does not affect the nerves responsible for orgasmic sensation or ejaculation.¹ Penile implants are designed to restore erectile function while preserving natural sexual sensations and responses.

The 2025 EAU Guidelines on Sexual and Reproductive Health do not provide specific recommendations regarding catheter use after penile implant surgery, as post-operative catheterization protocols are not explicitly addressed within the guidelines.¹

Yes, some types of penile implants can stay partially inflated. The three-piece inflatable devices can be adjusted to various degrees of rigidity based on patient preference, while two-piece inflatable and semi-rigid implants offer less adjustability but may maintain a partially rigid state.¹ ²

Most patients can safely resume cycling after complete healing from penile implant surgery, typically 4-6 weeks post-operation, as modern implants are designed to withstand physical activities including cycling.¹ However, patients should consult their surgeon for personalized advice based on their specific implant type and recovery progress.²

The 2025 EAU Guidelines on Sexual and Reproductive Health do not provide specific cost information for penile implant procedures, though they recognize penile prosthesis implantation as a highly effective treatment option for erectile dysfunction when other treatments fail¹.

The 2025 EAU Guidelines do not specify an optimal age for penile implant surgery, as the decision should be based on individual factors including erectile dysfunction severity, failure of less invasive treatments, and patient preference rather than age alone.¹ ² Penile implants are typically considered when other erectile dysfunction treatments are unsuitable or ineffective, regardless of the patient's age.³

The average man's erection can typically last between 5-30 minutes during sexual activity, with significant variation based on individual factors including age, health status, and psychological factors.¹ ² The duration of an erection is influenced by both physiological mechanisms controlling blood flow to the penis and psychological factors affecting sexual arousal.³

Several medication classes can cause erectile dysfunction, including antihypertensives (especially thiazide diuretics and beta-blockers), antidepressants, antipsychotics, antiandrogens, and certain recreational drugs.¹ These medications may affect erectile function through various mechanisms, but alternative treatments are often available.²

Erectile dysfunction (ED) can have physical causes (vascular, hormonal, neurologic), psychological causes (anxiety, depression), or most commonly, a combination of both.¹ While psychological ED may respond to counseling, physical ED often requires medical intervention, with both types benefiting from a comprehensive treatment approach.²

According to the 2025 EAU Guidelines on Sexual and Reproductive Health, erections do not typically occur under general anesthesia as the autonomic nervous system is suppressed during this state.¹ Penile implant procedures are performed under anesthesia specifically to ensure patient comfort and surgical safety during the implantation process.²

The 2025 EAU Guidelines do not specify an optimal age for penile implant surgery, as the decision is based on erectile dysfunction severity, failure of less invasive treatments, and patient preference rather than age. Penile implants are considered a third-line treatment option with high satisfaction rates (92-100%) regardless of patient age when appropriate patient selection and counseling are provided.

The 2025 EAU Guidelines on Sexual and Reproductive Health do not specify an average cost for penile implants, but note that factors such as equipment availability and cost should be considered when deciding on the type of implant to use.¹

The fastest-acting ED treatments include avanafil (effective within 15-30 minutes), sildenafil and vardenafil (30-60 minutes), and intracavernosal injections (5-15 minutes), with penile implants providing immediate on-demand erections for men seeking a permanent solution.¹ ² ³

To stop an erection, several medical approaches can be used including physical techniques (cold applications, position changes), vacuum erection devices with constriction rings, or in persistent cases, medical interventions such as intracavernous injections of sympathomimetic agents.[1, 2] For men with recurrent unwanted erections, consulting a urologist about treatment options including medications or penile implants may be appropriate.[3]

Most penile implants last 10 to 15 years on average, although this depends on the implant type, patient health, and surgical factors. Over time, mechanical failure or complications may require revision or replacement.

Sildenafil is not typically needed or effective after penile implant surgery, as the implant itself provides the rigidity needed for sexual intercourse.

Most men report a perceived decrease in penile length after a penile implant, though objective studies show only a small reduction of less than 1 cm. Some may experience length gains, especially with specific implant types or combined procedures.

Yes, an inflatable penile implant allows you to achieve an erection by manually pumping fluid into inflatable cylinders inside the penis, resulting in a firm and natural-feeling erection.