Penile implantation, while exceptionally successful with a 95%+ satisfaction rate, also requires meeting important postoperative milestones. The post-procedure care pathways are implemented to ensure the implant is as successful as possible, and one of the most significant and ultimately exciting milestones penile implant patients hit is when they begin cycling the device.
What Is Cycling?
Cycling is the process of inflating and deflating the penile implant. To prepare for the cycling process, we encourage the patient to feel the pump, particularly the release valve mechanism, which is used for deflation.
Note: Before starting the cycling process, patients will be asked to lightly pull on the pump mechanism within the scrotum to get a better feel for it and minimize the buildup of scar tissue.
Patients begin cycling approximately three weeks after surgery, after their surgeon has given the all-clear. From there, most patients will be asked to pump and deflate the implant twice daily. The number of pumps required to inflate the device can vary between patients. Some may require as few as 10 pumps, while others require 20 or more. A few notes to remember:
You will quickly get used to how many pumps are needed to inflate the penile implant fully. This is good to note, especially when you want to be spontaneous.
Try to maintain an erection for progressively longer until you can comfortably reach approximately 30 minutes.
Remember to always fully deflate the implant to avoid developing scar tissue around the partially inflated components.
Cycling will be a little uncomfortable, and you can take over-the-counter pain medications to counteract the discomfort. If you feel severe pain, call your doctor.
After approximately one week of cycling, most patients will be ready for sexual activity – penetrative or otherwise. Patients who wish to perform penetrative sex may feel some pain, which can be minimized with ibuprofen or acetaminophen taken 20 minutes before sexual activity. This discomfort, if present, will fade over time.
Tips & Advice
As an additional tip, we suggest that patients use lubricant when performing penetrative sex. This reduces the risk of problematic pressure on the implant, especially in the early days. While this risk is reduced over time, it’s never a bad idea to continue using lubrication. We also suggest avoiding vigorous sex for a time, as any trauma to the penis can cause complications with the implant.
Patients typically recover quickly and satisfactorily after a penile implant. However, in rare cases where recovery does not progress as expected, patients can turn to their urologic surgeon and the staff at Georgia Urology for any questions or concerns.
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