Penile implants
Penile implants (often called "internal penile pumps") are one of several options available within Australia to treat Erectile Dysfunction (ED) or Impotence.

An inflatable penile implant is a small, self-contained medical device that is implanted in the body to create an erection. Penile implants require a simple surgical procedure to place the prosthesis. The implant is concealed within the body and it is not visible. Essentially two cylinders are inserted side-by-side into the corpora cavernosa in the shaft of the penis. Additionally a pump is inserted into scrotum and a reservoir containing fluid is placed in the abdomen. After undergoing penile implant surgery, when a man desires an erection, he uses the device to transfer fluid from the reservoir into the cylinders. The cylinders expand, enlarging or "erecting" the penis.

Currently there are three types of penile implants. All are totally concealed within the body and upon atomization provide an almost immediate erection to enhance romantic spontaneity.

• 3-piece inflatable implants (about 75% of penile implants.)

• 2-piece inflatable implants (about 15% of penile implants.)

• Semi-rigid malleable (positionable) rods (about 10% of penile implants.)

Long-term clinical data shows penile implants to be highly effective and reliable. Clinical studies have also found penile implants to have the highest degree of satisfaction by both users and their partners when compared to all other forms of ED treatments.

Surgeons began performing penile implant surgery in the early 1970s. Since then, nearly 300,000 men have benefited from receiving penile implants. Currently approximately 20,000 men choose penile implants each year to treat impotence. In Australia numerous specialist Urologists have extensive experience with the implantation of penile devices.

Doctors normally recommend starting men with a less-intrusive treatment such as oral drug therapy. If this treatment form is not successful or appropriate, then penile implants may be the logical next step.

As with all surgical procedures, there is a slight risk of infection. And although penile implants are highly reliable, malfunctions can occur over time. Reliability and inflation control, however, have significantly improved over the past few years.

Three-piece inflatable penile implants 
Three-piece penile implants are the most technologically advanced device. They are totally concealed within the body. Urologists consider the 3-piece inflatable implant to be the "gold standard" of penile implants.

Placement. During placement of the device, the patient usually is under general anesthesia. A skilled urologist trained in prosthetic urology performs the simple procedure.

Using a small incision, the urologist positions the inflatable cylinders in the corpora cavernosa. A small pump is positioned in the scrotum and a reservoir is placed deep in the abdomen. The reservoir is filled with saline solution. The device is completely hidden and unobtrusive.

Recovery time. It commonly takes about four to six weeks to regain sexual function.

How it works. Gently squeeze the concealed pump in your scrotum several times. This moves the saline solution from the reservoir into the cylinders. As the cylinders fill, the penis becomes erect and firm.

To end the erection, simply press a "deflation site" on the pump. Deflating the cylinders transfers the fluid back to the reservoir and the penis becomes flaccid.

Two-piece inflatable penile implants
Two-piece inflatable penile implants are fluid-filled internal penile pumps. The two-piece system includes cylinders and a small pump. This makes it a slightly more complex device compared to malleable or "positionable" penile implants.

Placement. During the procedure, the patient usually is under either local or general anesthesia.

A skilled urologist trained in prosthetic urology performs the procedure which usually takes 45 minutes or less. Using a small incision, the urologist positions the inflatable cylinders in the corpora cavernosa. A small pump is positioned in the scrotum. The device is completely concealed and unobtrusive.

The pump inflates the cylinders by transferring fluid within the system. A simple deflation technique then transfers fluid to return the penis to a flaccid state.

Recovery time. It takes about four to six weeks to regain sexual function.

How it works. Gently squeeze and release the concealed pump in your scrotum several times. This transfers the fluid in each cylinder to the cylinder shaft. Your penis will then become erect.

To end the erection, gently bend your penis down for 6-12 seconds (as illustrated here.) This transfers fluid back into the reservoir.

Malleable (positionable) penile implants
This is the simplest of the penile implants.

Placement. The surgeon gently places two bendable, "positionable" rods into the penis. The rods have an outer coating of silicone and inner stainless steel core or interlocking plastic joints. These enable the man to place the penis in either the erect or flaccid position.

Recovery time. It takes about four to six weeks to regain sexual function.

How it works. For intercourse, the man places his penis in the erect position. As he does so, the rods inside his penis bend. To conceal the penile implant, the man bends his penis down. He can bend the device in more than one place to create the desired erection.