There were times when he wanted to be alone for the rest of his life. Can a cripple in a wheelchair make a woman happy? Today he knows it is. He has overcome impotence and feels 100 percent. man.
After the accident, Michał’s life changed. He doesn’t like to recall that time when he started to use a wheelchair. He quit his job and set up a one-man IT company. Thanks to his old contacts, or maybe a little out of compassion, he hated the lack of orders. In this most difficult period, he was supported by his wife. Without her, he certainly wouldn’t be able to cope. Today he himself is surprised that he thought then to leave her. He was young, only 28 years old, and became impotent as a result of the accident.
Injury to the spine means not only paralysis but also erectile dysfunction and ejaculation disorders. Although men with spinal cord injury experience spontaneous erections, they are usually insufficient for full intercourse – says Dr. Jan Karol Wolski, urologist and andrology consultant at the “Novum” Infertility Treatment Center.
Penis injections
Michał struggled with his thoughts for a long time before he went to the urologist. The doctor said he could not prescribe Viagra because of the pressure disturbance resulting from the accident. But he found out that there are preparations which, when injected into the penis, produce an erection lasting from 40 to 60 minutes after a few minutes.
– The injection is made with a small needle into the base of the shaft of the penis, straight into the cavernous bodies. It is relatively painless and the erection occurs approximately ten to fifteen minutes after it is done. The patient learns how to inject himself in the urologist’s office. The most serious complication that can happen is a very long and painful erection. It happens extremely rarely, but if it occurs, it requires immediate medical intervention, because it disappears only under the influence of appropriate pharmaceuticals – explains Dr. Wolski.
Michał decided to try. At the next visit, he came to the doctor with an injection he had bought. The preparation was not cheap, it cost about PLN 150. But he figured that some people paid more for casual sex, so if he could have had a great night out with a woman he loved thanks to that money, it wasn’t an exorbitant amount. The doctor patiently instructed him on how to give the injection and administered it to Michał. After returning home, the man found out how effective this preparation is. He was happy, he spoke honestly with his wife for the first time about his potency problems. He knew it could be dealt with.
The next visit to the urologist changed everything. It became clear that he was unable to inject himself. The doctor consoled him that this happened not only to him. He suggested a different method.
For potency – erector
– Another method offered to patients with ED is the erector. You have to manually pump out the air from the cylinder placed on the penis. A vacuum is created and the vacuum causes blood to flow to the penis. The cylinder and pump are then removed, leaving a clamping ring at the base of the penis, which inhibits the outflow of blood and supports the erection. The ring is tightened for the entire duration of sexual intercourse, explains the urologist.
When Michał saw this device, he felt like having sex. There was no room for romanticism or spontaneity here. He decided to give up sex for the rest of his life.
– Treatment of impotence with this device – although it is non-invasive and does not require surgery – is considered by many patients as troublesome, especially its operation. It can cause minor bruises and difficulty ejaculating, admits Dr. Wolski.
Penis prosthesis
Michał was devastated. He could only offer his wife sex after visiting the doctor who gave him the injection. It was a very uncomfortable situation. However, Dr. Wolski offered him one more method – a prosthesis implanted into the cavernous bodies of the penis.
– There are two types of penile implants. The first is rigid or semi-rigid sticks that are surgically inserted into the cavernous bodies of a penis. They enable the patient to experience full-fledged sexual contacts. However, they do have a downside. The penis remains stiff all the time. It can be bent downwards, but will be visible in tight clothing. Hydraulic penile prostheses, on the other hand, do not cause such problems. They consist of three parts: cylinders implanted inside the cavernous bodies of the penis, a pump sewn into the scrotum and a reservoir placed under the layer of abdominal muscles. When the member remains in a collapsed state, fluid collects in the reservoir and the cylinders in the shaft remain empty. In order to achieve an erection, the fluid is pumped from the reservoir into the cylinders. The man manually activates the pump mechanism sewn into the scrotal bag. Thanks to the prosthesis, you can achieve full sexual satisfaction, but there is always a risk of damaging the mechanism – the doctor explains.
A visit to a sexologist
Michał was desperate, he wanted an operation. The problem was that it takes about 2 years. You can, of course, do it in a private clinic, but it costs around 12. dollars. He decided to wait.
– The dentures are made of silicone. They are available in various sizes, selected individually for the patient. – explains Dr. Wolski.
While waiting for the surgery, the urologist persuaded Michał to visit a sexologist with his wife.
– Psychotherapy related to the sexuality of the disabled is very important in therapy. A disabled person requires the support and acceptance of a partner who is most often also terrified by the new situation. They both need help. Sexologists believe that after an accident, sex does not always turn for the worse. It is worth looking together for ways to give yourself pleasure. It should not be forgotten that the need for tenderness and closeness, being adored is as important as having an orgasm – emphasizes the doctor.
Michał turned to a clinical hospital and was qualified for surgery.
– The operation is performed under general anesthesia. The healing period takes about two weeks. The first attempts at intercourse are recommended one month after the surgery, informs the urologist.
Michał is already after the operation. He and his wife are expecting a baby.
Read more about impotence treatment.
Text: Halina Pilonis