In the past decade, particularly in the U.S.A., surgeons have devised operations to help men whose erectile impotence is caused by disease, particularly diabetes and vascular disease. Two main in gical approaches have been made. In the first, a silastic (silicone) Iplint or prothesis, cut to the appropriate length, is inserted between the loose skin of the upper surface of the penis and the underlying cylinders. The penis containing the prothesis is no longer limp, and can be inserted into the vagina, but it is not a hard, erect penis and its size always remains constant. As the author of one report, Dr Pearman, says, it ‘assists’ but does not replace the i и her factors necessary for successful copulation.
The second method is to insert an implantable inflatable prothesis into the penis. The advantage of this is that the device can be inflated by squeezing a small bulb in the scrotum when the man wants to obtain a larger firmer penis. At other times the penis is small and limp.
The surgeons are enthusiastic about their results, claiming that their patients ‘are the happiest people in the world’. But in very few instances have the partners of the men been asked what they think.
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