Even with the highly popular erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs like Viagra, Levitra and Cialis, penile implants still have a niche in the market, says Dr. J. Francois Eid, director of Advanced Urological Care, and Clinical Associate Professor of Urology at Weill/Cornell Medical College in New York City. "For sufferers of erectile dysfunction who have tried other treatment options without success, penile implants are an ideal choice for sexual recovery, because they provide what drugs can't: length, girth and endurance," continued Eid, whose practice is dedicated to the treatment of erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.

Wells Fargo analysts estimate the penile implant market to be worth about $200 million worldwide, with device manufacturer American Medical Systems (AMS) responsible for about 70% of that. The penile implant (or prosthesis) makers carved out a niche for themselves specifically in response to patients who do not respond to erectile dysfunction medication. When Viagra launched in 1998, the penile prosthesis manufacturers suffered significant losses. And when competitors like the longer-lasting Cialis entered the market, these devices reinvented themselves as a third line treatment for men with erectile dysfunction who do not respond to medication.

"Severe deterioration of penile muscle tissue can cause men to become unresponsive to treatments such as oral medications, penile injections and vacuum pumps," said Dr. Eid. "In many cases, patients who are unresponsive often have diabetes or suffer from ED as a result of surgical or radiation treatment for prostate or bladder cancer." Fewer than 50% of men suffering from diabetes and ED and fewer than 40% of men following prostate cancer surgeries respond to oral medications such as Viagra, Levitra and Cialis.

Having performed over 3,000 penile prosthesis surgeries, the most in the world, Dr. Eid knows the importance of the look, feel, and ease of use of the device. Eid has unsurpassed expertise in Inflatable Penile Prostheses (IPP) and Artificial Urinary Sphincters (AUS). Eid strongly believes in the effectiveness of IPP's, since he has performed more of these surgeries than anyone in the world, over 300 per year. He also places top priority on infection prevention. Towards this end, he developed the "No-Touch" penile implant surgery, which has an infection rate of less than one percent.

Thanks to healthcare reform, erectile dysfunction prescriptions are facing elimination in coverage by state employee health plans, the first time since the late 1990s. This makes penile implants even more beneficial. "Basically, aside from penile implants, there are no proven non-surgical methods of restoring erections. Vacuum devices just pull blood into the penis. Pills cannot cure erectile dysfunction," asserted Dr. Eid.

In addition, penile implants can help improve length of the flaccid penis and enhance girth of the penis when erect, something that medications can't claim. But for those men who don't respond to medication, Dr. Eid believes in penile implants mainly for ease of use and quality of erection. "Both size and function matter to men," says Eid, "so what I try to do is restore a man's sexual function and try to get him closer to his natural size."

Source
UrologicalCare.com