UPDATE - Issue 37 - Summer 2009
Living with Erectile Dysfunction, by Michael Short
It is now nearly ten years since I had a successful radical prostatectomy in November 1999. Although the best nerve-sparing techniques available at that time were used (robotic surgery had not yet arrived), I was left with erectile dysfunction, but fortunately no other disability, such as incontinence, which does occur with some patients. As subsequent regular PSA tests confirmed, the cancer had been completely removed by this operation, and no further treatment was needed, for which I shall always be most thankful.
After six months or so the desire for sex returned and I was delighted to experience my first post-operative orgasm, gently stimulated by masturbation! So I realised that some form of sexual activity might once more be possible with my beloved wife. At first we tried the vacuum device, which proved completely ineffective; although it successfully stiffened my penis, the thing became quite cold and blue and not at all attractive for lovemaking. So that didn’t work! Next, I tried Viagra and Cialis, but these didn’t work either. Obviously, they do for some people, for the effect of surgery on the penile nerves varies with individual men, but they certainly didn’t work for me.
Mind you, we were still able to enjoy oral sex – which we called Plan B – requiring no drugs whatsoever, and we found this delightful! But penetrative intercourse did not become possible until I began to use a drug directly inserted into the penis. I didn’t fancy using Caverject, a well-known licensed product which injects alprostadil into the penis, preferring to use MUSE, which is also alprostadil, contained in tiny white tablets inserted gently through a fine tube in the mouth of the penis into the urethra. Quite easy to do and not uncomfortable! The tiny tablet simply dissolves in the urine of the urethra, before penetrating quickly and stimulating the spongy tissue all around it. Using this product we were able to enjoy penetrative sex, though our lovemaking was somewhat marred by the slight penile ache that accompanied it.
In August 2007 I was introduced to Dr John Dean, a specialist in sexual medicine. After first trying one more oral therapy (Levitra) a few times, again unsuccessfully (my penis lengthened slightly but wasn’t rigid enough for penetrative sex), I accepted his suggestion that I use Invicorp.
This is injected from a syringe by a super-fine 30 gauge needle directly into the penis anywhere along its length on the upper side, thus avoiding the urethra. So the drug (a com-bination of phentolamine and VIP) goes directly into the erectile tissue, and the effect I found frankly wonderful! Within two or three minutes my penis became erect and long, with absolutely no aching feeling. Indeed, the feeling was very similar to the normal erections enjoyed in years long ago. My wife and I were then able to enjoy lovely penetrative intercourse for the first time in eight years!
" The effect I found frankly wonderful "
Dr Dean explained that he had, for many years, been recommending Invicorp to patients unable to tolerate the side-effects of Caverject, which causes penile aching for around 20% of people. If oral remedies work– Viagra, Cialis, Levitra etc – they are recommended because there is no risk of penile fibrosis (thickening of the tissue and inelasticity), which can occasionally occur with some people using injection therapy. Moreover, some people find that, after being sufficiently stimulated by Invicorp, they can actually regain erectile function just using oral drug therapy.
A sign on Almshouses in Castle Street, Farnham, Hants
Invicorp was originally formulated more than 10 years ago, but is not yet licensed; however, it sometimes can be prescribed on a named-patient basis.
Finally, all I can say is that I have found it very easy to use for more than a year now. So far, I cannot even detect any tiny spot on my penis after the injection, certainly no nodules or penile fibrosis. The only side effect is mild facial flushing. After sexual activity, my penis simply recovers in the usual fashion without any discomfort whatsoever. I wish I had learned about it years ago!