The most effective treatment for erectile dysfunction due to irreversible primary causes is considered to be surgical implantation (penile prosthesis). This method involves the insertion of a special implant into the penis.
Indications for penile prosthesis include the ineffectiveness of all other treatment methods and the presence of factors that have affected potency:
- diseases of the blood vessels supplying blood to the penis;
- diabetes;
- Peyronie's disease;
- radiation exposure;
- injuries or damage during surgeries on the male genital organ, urethra, or prostate gland.
A separate category is prosthesis for the purpose of increasing the size of the penis.
In Israel, three types of prostheses are used as implants.
The first type is semi-rigid prostheses. These implants have the lowest cost and the least difficulties in prosthesis, but they are the most uncomfortable for patients. Such a penile prosthesis keeps the penis in a state of constant erection, which causes many inconveniences in daily life and a difficult adaptation for the individual in social life.
The second type is inflatable implants. These prostheses consist of cylinders made of synthetic material, several layers of which are secured with silver wire. To achieve an erection, the patient simply needs to lift the penis by hand – the silver wire provides rigidity to the implanted structure. After sexual intercourse, the penis needs to be lowered by hand. Prosthesis with the insertion of an inflatable implant has a relatively low cost. The main disadvantage of such a penile prosthesis is that the penis is always hard after the operation.
The most natural erection is provided by a functional or inflatable penile prosthesis. It consists of inflatable cylindrical implants implanted into the cavernous bodies of the penis, connected through a pump (implanted in the scrotum) to a reservoir located in the internal space of the pubic area. After pressing the pump in the scrotum, water flows from the reservoir into the penile implant, providing a natural, stable erection. To make the penis soft again, the pump needs to be pressed once more.
Treatment of sexual disorders through prosthesis in Israel has its advantages. The prostheses do not cause discomfort, and the patient can fully engage in sexual life, with the number of sexual acts having no effect on the erection.