Kiran was shattered. His neurological condition made it difficult for him to get an erection. Initially he was hopeful, as the doctor prescribed Viagra. When it did not work, he tried Vacuum Suction Device. When everything failed, penile prosthetic surgery was suggested.
Penile prosthesis a.k.a penile implants are medical devices which are implanted or embedded in the erectile tissues of the penis.
In the normal circumstances, the erectile tissues in the penis get filled with blood during sexual arousal. For this to happen, the neural circuits, the genital tissues, the blood vessels in the genital system, hormonal system etc. have to be healthy and functioning. Also, they have to work in a coordinated manner. Due to many diseases, these get damaged and hence obtaining an erection becomes difficult. Diabetes, smoking and Hypercholesterolemia are some of the major factors which contribute to the damage of the genital system. In a majority of these conditions, drugs like PDE5 inhibitors, Vacuum Suction Devices, Intra corporeal injections etc. prove beneficial. However, in some severe cases, they may not be effective. That’s when the Penile Implant Surgery is recommended as the ultimate solution. The process involves embedding rods made of silicon or polyurethane inside the corpora cavernosa of the penis. This procedure carries certain risks like infection and malfunctioning of the implant. However, since they were first introduced in the 1970s, new materials, designs and surgical procedures have greatly improved the outcomes for this surgery. Research indicates that most men with penile implants and their partners are satisfied.
Apart from Erectile Dysfunction, penile implants are used in the correction of birth defects of the penis, penile trauma, micropenis and Peyronie’s Disease. It is also used in Gender Reassignment Surgery where in a female is converted into a male.
Various types of implants are available — semirigid, malleable, inflatable etc. The semirigid type cannot be bent, whereas the malleable one can be bent to a certain extent. These two are non-inflatable. In the inflatable variety, instead of a solid piece, a hollow tube is embedded. It contains a radio opaque fluid and can be inflated or deflated on demand, thereby mimicking a natural erection.
The non-inflatable types cost around Rs.65,000 as they have to be imported. The inflatable one costs around Rs.2½ lakhs. Due to the high cost, many Indians could not afford them. However, the Shah Prothesis developed by Dr. Rupin Shah costs around ` 9,000 and is within the reach of the common man. Statistical data reveal that approximately 20,000 American men undergo penile implant surgery. A guesstimate for India is around 250 per annum. The moral of the story is that no one needs to be dejected. Erectile Dysfunction can be managed one way or the other in a majority of cases.
APART FROM ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION, PENILE IMPLANTS ARE USED IN THE CORRECTION OF BIRTH DEFECTS OF THE PENIS, PENILE TRAUMA, MICROPENIS AND PEYRONIE’S DISEASE. IT IS ALSO USED IN GENDER REASSIGNMENT SURGERY WHERE IN A FEMALE IS CONVERTED INTO A MALE.
