Men in Ghana, including those as old as 80 are suffering from conditions like hyper­tension and diabetes, now have a reliable treatment option for Erectile Dysfunction (ED), which is penile implant surgery.

In an interview, a Consultant Urologist and Sexologist, Dr Samuel Amanamah, shared that 52 per cent of men aged 40–70 were affected by ED in varying degrees.

He described ED, referred to as impotence, as the persistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse.

The condition, he stressed, has contributed to marital breakdowns, low self-esteem, and even infertility.

“Men in this situation can now breathe a sigh of relief,” Dr Amanamah said, adding that, “Age or chronic conditions like diabetes are no longer barriers to treatment. Even 80-year-olds have successfully undergone the procedure.”

The penile implant was considered the final treatment option for men when all other inter­ventions, including oral medications, injectables, and medical devices fail.

The procedure involved inserting a silicon rod into the erectile tissues of the penis, providing an immediate and controllable erection, stating that there were two types of implants: malleable, which is always firm, and inflatable, which allows the user to regulate erections.

Dr Amanamah mentioned that the surgery required only a small 4cm incision beneath the penis.

“The incision site is barely visible after heal­ing,” he said, adding that the minimally invasive procedure usually lasts an hour. Patients are typi­cally discharged within one or two days.

Aesthetically, the penis remains unchanged af­ter the procedure, and it is almost impossible to distinguish between one with an implant and one without, he noted.

“Functionally, the implant is even superior to natural erections,” he underlined. “It can last over 20 years and allows for intercourse as often as the patient desires.”

He added that patients can still father children after the procedure, provided they do not have underlying fertility issues.

“Some patients who suffered from 10 years of infertility have gone on to have twins after the surgery,” he noted, adding that others have reconciled with spouses after being previously divorced due to ED.

Although complications were possible, the success rate of penile implants was as high as 93 per cent, Dr Amanamah emphasised, stating that occasional erectile failure does not qualify as ED.

He also outline that the dysfunction must be persistent. “Some men start with a good erection but lose it during intercourse. That still counts as ED.”

Furthermore, he explained that ED can stem from various causes, including cardiovascular issues, neurological disorders, hormonal imbal­ances, and chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes.

Psychological factors such as unresolved marital problems also play a role. Conditions like pria­pism, that is, prolonged erection often linked to sickle cell disease or abuse of sex-enhancement drugs could also result in ED if not promptly treated.

Moreover, Dr Amanamah underscored the im­portance of treating the root cause noting that “simply giving medication without addressing underlying issues only delays the problem,” and added that “effective treatment must be holis­tic.”

“When oral or injectable medications and medical devices fail, the penile implant remains a safe and long-term solution for restoring sexual function and quality of life,” he noted.

 From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua