Andrew Siegel MD 11/7/20
Penile venous constriction devices consist of bands, loops and lassos that are placed around the base of the erect penis or sometimes around the base of the penis and the scrotum to help maintain erectile rigidity. These devices are particularly helpful in men who have impaired blood trapping within the penile erectile chambers that causes drainage of blood and loss of erections. Constriction devices are also used in conjunction with vacuum erection devices to maintain the erectile rigidity achieved with the vacuum. The sex toy industry markets many similar devices, commonly known as “cock rings,” used recreationally for pleasure purposes as well as to help sustain penile rigidity.
Corporal venous occlusive dysfunction is the term for the inability to trap blood in the erectile chambers, despite adequate inflow of blood. Men with this situation often can obtain an erection, but lose it prematurely because of the exit of blood. This situation is also known as venous leak and is analogous to a car tire with a slow leak that cannot maintain adequate pressure despite pumping it up with air.
Venous trapping is dependent upon the relaxation of erectile sinus tissue within the erectile chambers allowing influx of blood and the closure of the veins that drain the erectile chambers. With aging, the tissues of the erectile chambers become stiffer and less able to fill and trap blood, similar to age-related stiffening of arteries leading to high blood pressure. (Isn’t it ironic that this increased stiffness leads to decreased stiffness!) The consequence of increased stiffness of erectile tissues is venous leak that manifests with inability to sustain an erection. Under this circumstance, venous constriction devices can be particularly helpful.
Constriction devices function by compressing the circumference of the penis and thereby help prevent volume and pressure loss from the engorged erectile chambers, providing more sustained erections. They should never be left on for longer than 30 minutes to minimize the likelihood of serious potential problems due to the effect of the constrictive band on the blood supply to the penis. Side effects include mechanical impairment of ejaculation, discomfort and pain, coolness, numbness, altered sensation, and penile engorgement.
In addition to their utility in helping maintain erectile rigidity, penile constriction devices are also useful for men who leak urine during foreplay, sexual intercourse or climax.
Wishing you the best of health,
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Dr. Andrew Siegel is a physician and urological surgeon who is board-certified in urology as well as in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at the Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School and is a Castle Connolly Top Doctor New York Metro Area, Inside Jersey Top Doctor and Inside Jersey Top Doctor for Women’s Health. His mission is to “bridge the gap” between the public and the medical community. He is a urologist at New Jersey Urology, the largest urology practice in the United States. Today’s entry is excerpted from his latest book, Prostate Cancer 20/20: A Practical Guide to Understanding Management Options for Patients and Their Families.
Video trailer for Prostate Cancer 20/20
Preview of Prostate Cancer 20/20
Andrew Siegel MD Amazon author page
PROSTATE CANCER 20/20 is now available at Audible, iTunes and Amazon as an audiobook read by the author (just over 6 hours).
Dr. Siegel’s other books:
PROMISCUOUS EATING— Understanding and Ending Our Self-Destructive Relationship with Food
MALE PELVIC FITNESS: Optimizing Sexual and Urinary Health
THE KEGEL FIX: Recharging Female Pelvic, Sexual, and Urinary Health
Our Greatest Wealth Is Health 