Highlights
- Penile injections are highly effective erection boosters for the right people.
- Many find the idea unacceptable, however.
- Around 80% of those who undergo treatment discontinue it.
- Discuss all ED available treatment options with your doctor to determine your optimal approach.
Michael DiLeo, MD, has over 30 years of experience in clinical and academic medicine. Through medical school, residency, and private practice, he has functioned as both a specialist and a primary care practitioner. He has twice served as chief of staff of a large regional hospital. He is a published author on women's health for McGraw-Hill. Learn More
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“An erection at will is the moral equivalent of a credit card.” – Alex Comfort
Fear of needles is real. Penile injections can be a highly effective treatment for ED, but many men find them uncomfortable, inconvenient, or hands-down frightening. Some couldn’t fathom having their penis pricked with a hypodermic needle. Others give it a try but discontinue treatment.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection long enough to complete a sexual act or to complete it to a satisfactory degree. It is a common disorder among men and tends to become more prevalent with age.
Research says that the loss of erectile function has a significant negative impact on the quality of life.
Penile injections promise to counter that impact.
How Penile Injections Work
For those unable to take or unresponsive to oral PDE-5 inhibitors like Viagra and Cialis, penile injections present a viable alternative. These injections help approximately 80% of men achieve erections by directly delivering medication into the penis’s spongy tissue, which proves highly effective.
The injections typically contain papaverine, a non-narcotic opium derivative, or a combination of papaverine, phentolamine, and alprostadil. These compounds relax the smooth muscles within the penis, with papaverine acting as a vasodilator to expand blood vessels and enhance blood flow, resulting in stronger and longer-lasting erections.
Papaverine is a non-narcotic derivative of the opium poppy.
Penile injections use short, fine needles like those used for insulin injections. After your doctor shows you how to inject your penis, you will likely have to learn to self-inject. If you’re squeamish, this will be a true trial of will. Spring-loaded auto-injectors can minimize the discomfort of self-injecting — the sudden landing of the spring mechanism distracts from the actual injection so it’s practically unnoticeable.
Penile injections act quickly, producing erections almost on demand.
Pros of Penile Injections
If you need a quick erection, penile injections may be your best option. They will produce an erection in 5-15 minutes, compared to 30-60 minutes with a standard dose of oral PDE5 medication.
Some other advantages of penile injections are:
- Effectiveness. Delivering a powerful vasodilator mixture directly into the corpora cavernosa of the penis yields the expected result in 80% of patients.
- Responsiveness. Some men cannot take oral medications or don’t respond well to established oral PDE5 inhibitors. Penile injections often work for these men.
- Cost. A single injection of Trimix medication for ED costs from $1.39 to $3.30, depending on the dose.
- Added benefits. Penile injections can keep your corpora cavernosa in shape. The spongy tissue can atrophy over time in the absence of regular erections. Penile injections and the erections they cause can prevent this problem.
Cons of Penile Injections
The idea of sticking a needle into what most men consider their most sensitive body part is not appealing to some. Interestingly, there are relatively few nerves in the target area of the penis, and penile injections are mostly painless. Despite that, some patients never overcome the anxiety they feel about penile injections.
Some other cons of penile injections include:
- High discontinuation rates. A 2013 study found a penile injection discontinuation rate of 76%.
- High effort and precision. Unlike popping an oral pill, injecting a drug into your penis is a delicate operation. It takes effort to load the syringe and deliver the shot with precision. Hitting a nerve can result in unpleasant side effects. Hitting a small vein, while both rare and harmless, can cause a temporary bruise.
- Storage. If you use the combination containing alprostadil, your medication will have to be refrigerated; this makes traveling with it difficult.
- Self-injection. Your doctor can show you how to inject your penis, but eventually, you will have to do it yourself.
- Insurance problems. Penile ED injections are not medically necessary; therefore, they’re usually not covered by insurance.
- Side effects. Like all medications, penile injections may cause side effects, especially when self-administered.
Penile Injection Side Effects
Optimally administered penile ED injections are safe, but even so, they may cause side effects. When you fail to self-administer correctly, you boost the likelihood and severity of potential side effects.
Penile injections may cause:
- Swelling of the skin at the site of the injection
- Bleeding at the injection site
- Black or blue patches on the skin
- Temporary pain in the head of the penis
- Prolonged erections (priapism)
- Scarring of the penile tissue
- Curvature of the penis
Never take more than one injection in 24 hours or more than three injections per week.
Who Is a Good Candidate for ED Injections?
Doctors may recommend ED injections to patients who haven’t had success with other treatment methods. If oral PDE-5 inhibitors work for you, you don’t need injections.
People for whom ED injections may prove a good fit are individuals who:
- Have ED as a result of prostate removal
- Have a neurological condition like spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis. (Because they act locally, ED injections can often circumvent nerve problems.)
- Struggle with underlying health conditions, like diabetes, that limit the efficacy of oral treatments
- Suffer from severe forms of erectile dysfunction that do not respond to other treatments
- Will follow instructions closely and self-administer the injections correctly
Talk to your doctor if you’re considering penile ED injections.
Penile Injections Are Not for Everyone
Penile injections can provide a significant erectile boost to the right candidates. For many, however, this treatment method is not an option due to the discomfort and anxiety it can create.
If you’re struggling with ED, talk to your doctor about it. They can determine if your ED may be a symptom of an underlying condition and if penile injections are a good option for you.
For men who have only mild to moderate ED, an oral PDE-5 inhibitor — Viagra, Cialis, vardenafil (formerly Levitra), or Stendra — is typically a much better choice. These are all first-line treatment options that are FDA-approved to be safe and effective for most men — without the discomfort or inconvenience of self-injection.
eDrugstore Can Help
eDrugstore clients can take advantage of a free consultation with a U.S.-licensed physician, who can help you choose the right erectile dysfunction treatment option for you and write your prescription.
Place your order with confidence. We deliver quickly and discreetly, and shipping is always free.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information about health and related topics but is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
James West is a seasoned health and wellness writer with a focus on topics related to physiology, sleep, and men’s health. He has contributed articles on a range of subjects, from erectile dysfunction treatments and sleep aids to hair loss, providing well-researched insights to help readers make informed health decisions.