What does a penile implant feel like?

In the first weeks

Early on, what you feel is the surgery rather than the device: swelling, soreness and a sense of fullness in the penis and scrotum. The components feel more prominent than they will later, simply because the tissue around them is swollen. This settles over the first weeks.

Once healing is complete

• The cylinders are not usually noticeable as separate objects when the device is deflated.
• The pump is palpable in the scrotum, and needs to be — that is how you operate it.
• The reservoir is not normally felt, though some men are aware of it, particularly when it is placed in the abdominal wall.
• Penile skin sensation is unchanged, because the implant does not involve the nerves that carry it.

How the erection feels

Firm and reliable, but produced mechanically. Rigidity depends on how far you inflate the device rather than on arousal. The glans stays soft, which is the difference most men comment on. Whether that matters varies a great deal between individuals.

What a partner notices

A partner will generally be aware that an implant is present, mainly through the pump in the scrotum. Most report that the erection itself feels normal during intercourse. Couples who have discussed the device beforehand tend to find the adjustment easier than those who have not.

When something feels wrong

Persistent or increasing pain, a component that becomes newly prominent, a pump that is hard to reach or operate, or the sensation of the device partially inflating on its own should all be reported. These are assessable problems, not things to live with.