LIVING WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY: TREATMENT FOR ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION
Most men with spinal cord injury experience some type of erectile dysfunction – difficulty getting or sustaining an erection or inability to achieve full erection – that makes sexual intercourse difficult. Sometimes, erectile function improves over time as spontaneous recovery occurs.In men with injuries at a higher level of the spinal cord, reflexogenic erections can result from sexual or nonsexual stimulation to the genital area or penis. These erections are not necessarily related to sexual arousal, but with practice, couples can sometimes learn stimulation techniques to make these erections last long enough to have satisfactory intercourse. A satisfying sexual relationship may be possible whether you have reflexogenic erections, partial erections, or none at all. But many men and their partners want to have intercourse and may wish to use a treatment technique to create or sustain an erection firm enough for this purpose. Several options now exist, including vacuum devices, injections, medications, and penile implants.A vacuum device, or pump, is a simple tube that fits over the penis and creates an erection as air is pumped out of the tube and blood is drawn into the penis. A ring is then inserted over the base of the penis to maintain the erection by keeping the blood in the penis. After intercourse, the ring is removed and the erection dissipates. (Some people use a penis ring alone to maintain erections that occur naturally. Your urologist can tell you if this method is safe for you and can advise you on how long to use it, what size ring to use, and so forth.) The vacuum devices are generally safe, effective, and inexpensive.
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