How Happy Does the “Happiness Stick” Make You?
The penile prosthesis, popularly known as the “happiness stick”, is a type of treatment that is unfortunately little known in our country and surrounded by many prejudices. It is used in patients with severe erectile failure in whom an erection cannot be achieved despite all the treatments tried.
Which treatments should be tried before the “happiness stick”?
First, oral erection-enhancing drugs, shockwave (ESWT) therapy to the penis, intracavernosal drugs and stem cell (SVF) therapy should be tried. If none of these works, that is when a penile prosthesis should be discussed and implanted.
The penile prosthesis is the most guaranteed treatment method for erectile failure, with 100% effectiveness. This device, placed inside the penis, is not noticeable from the outside and, most importantly, does not reduce sensation during sexual intercourse.
Can a man with a penile prosthesis have children?
The answer to this question is a clear yes, because the penile prosthesis does not affect the pleasure experienced or the semen released at orgasm. It is widely used especially in Western countries and in the Arab world.
How many types of penile prosthesis are there?
In general there is the one-piece type called malleable, which is bent by hand. This prosthesis can be noticeable from the outside. It is bent by hand and straightened for intercourse. Its advantages are that it is cheaper and is implanted with less surgical risk; its disadvantage is that it can be felt, especially when tight trousers are worn.
The more commonly preferred prostheses are the three-piece inflatable prostheses. The operation takes somewhat longer. There is a pump system next to the testicles, a reservoir inside the abdomen and the prosthesis itself inside the penis. It is not noticeable from the outside. When intercourse is desired, the mechanism next to the testicles is pressed to activate the prosthesis; when intercourse is over the same mechanism is pressed to deflate the penis. These prostheses usually carry a lifetime guarantee.
Thanks to advances in technology, prostheses that expand both in girth and in length have been developed. Although more expensive, many patients choose this special new prosthesis.
