What Are Penile Injections?
For men affected by erectile dysfunction (ED), treatment options may seem limited at first. The truth is, there are many good options available, which increases your chances of finding one that suits your unique needs.
If oral medications like Viagra or Cialis are ineffective, or present dangerous or inconvenient side effects, injections could be a great option for you! While penile injections may sound painful, the truth is that they cause little discomfort for many and present an easy option for treating ED. Watch our instructional video below on the subject for a quick rundown on what you can expect.
Before we talk about the benefits penile injections could bring to your sexual wellness, it’s important to know they’re not a cure-all. Different treatment plans will work for different people. Injections could be a suitable option for you, or another method may work better for your personal situation. Now, let’s examine how injections work.
How Do Penile Injections Work?
The functional effects of penile injections depend on exactly which medication you use. Generally, injectable medications work by relaxing the smooth muscles of the blood vessels in the penis, which could encourage blood flow. Since the medication is injected at the base of the penis, the effects should be able to be noticed in just a few minutes. Depending on how well the medication works for you, this could help you achieve an erection.
There are a few side effects to keep in mind when using injections. Fainting, dizziness and low blood pressure may occur occasionally, other side effects like priapism, a prolonged erection lasting more than four hours, could occur.
How to Give a Penile Injection
When considering penile injections as an option, always speak with a medical professional first. That way you’ll be able to inject yourself properly and not wind up with unintended side effects like bruising, scarring or curvature of the penis due to improper injection techniques. You’re more likely to see success by following your doctor’s instructions.
Here’s a quick rundown on what you can expect for injection techniques:
You’ll inject the medication on either side of the penis via a syringe. The needle is very fine, so generally, you shouldn’t expect much if any pain from injection.
Injection is given directly into the corpora cavernosa of the penis, which is the sponge-like tissue in the penis. You should stand while you inject the medication to ensure the most blood flow into the area, and firmly press with a finger or two on the injection site immediately after.
If you’ll struggle with administering the medication, you can look into an autoinjector. With this, you won’t have to worry about pressing down on the syringe yourself. We sell autoinjectors at our pharmacy, so if you’re wary about needles, there’s still a way injections could work for you! They come shipped in discreet, unmarked packaging, so your privacy is protected.
Common Injectable Medications
The most common penile injection medications are Alprostadil (prostaglandin E1), phentolamine, and papaverine or a combination of some or all three. Injections for erectile dysfunction can be available in a variety of concentrations as a combination of two, called Bi-Mix, or of all three, called Tri-Mix.
At Stanley Specialty Pharmacy, we can create a custom combination and concentration to match your unique needs. The effects and dosage will vary based on the combination of medicines involved. Call 704.370.6612 today to learn more about what will work best for you!
We’re Here to Help
Stanley Compounding Pharmacy has a variety of treatment plans for erectile dysfunction in place. If you think injectable medications could be the right treatment for your ED, please check out our consult options on Shopify. This will help our pharmacists understand your specific situation, so we’ll be prepared to meet with you and come up with a plan to help improve your sexual wellness.
