Penile implant surgery represents one of the most definitive—and invasive—treatment options for erectile dysfunction (ED) and other disorders. As such, it deserves careful consideration and comprehensive understanding from both providers and patients.

Through our conversations with leading urologists, we’ve identified several crucial gaps in current care practices that need addressing—gaps that directly impact patient outcomes and satisfaction.

Here is what we learned.

The education gap

Like many issues in healthcare, penile implants don’t suffer from a technical issue but from an educational one. As Dr. Chung emphasizes, cases where implants are being considered should necessitate thoughtful medical guidance rather than rushed decisions.
However, there’s a knowledge gap even among providers.
“Providers and physicians are making the decision of penile implant treatment for the patient,” Noted Dr. Chung, “they are not necessarily educating them about penile implants as an option.”
This lack of education stems from various sources:

The experience factor

Here’s a startling statistic: “75% of penile implants were performed by somebody who does four or less penile implant cases a year,” shares Dr. Chung. To put this in perspective, he adds, “You would never have someone fix your roof if they only did four a year.”

While high-volume providers perform “about a hundred a year,” patients often don’t know what constitutes “a lot” of cases. The benchmark for a high-volume practice starts at 20-30 procedures annually.

Post-operative care is vital

The key to better outcomes lies in comprehensive care. As Dr. Chung notes, “It’s really important to find a surgeon who really loves taking care of patients.” This means:

Measuring Success

Traditional medical metrics aren’t enough. “We as surgeons think that a successful placement is putting it in there and not having any post-operative problems. But we don’t always know what the patient is thinking,” Dr. Chung explains.

The path forward, he says, involves “listening to patients because they can teach us a lot.” Understanding their “emotions…frustrations…pleasures, and what they’re physically looking for from the surgery” helps create better outcomes.

At menMD, we’re committed to bridging these gaps. We understand that successful penile implant outcomes demand three things: comprehensive care, clear communication, and ongoing support.

If you’re looking for more penile implant education that you can share with patients, we recommend sending them to our collection of videos and online clinics.