Follow-up of vacuum and nonvacuum constriction devices as treatments for erectile dysfunction.

Of 20 men evaluated for erectile dysfunction (ED) for whom vacuum erection devices or constriction bands were recommended, only four experienced improvement of their erectile function by using the specific suggested method. Although use of a simple constriction band mechanism (e.g., a rubber band wound tightly around the penis) for men with brief erectile capacity has been described as a viable treatment, only one of five men who tried using it achieved any success. Three of six men who used a vacuum erection device were helped by it, particularly the men who suffered from only partial ED. Most patients did not follow through with the recommended treatment and stopped sexual activity, or belatedly returned for intracavernosal injections. The interviews revealed the pervasive influence of shame and demoralization regarding erectile problems, the importance of evaluation and treatment follow-up, and the necessity for careful, explicit, extensive, and concrete explanations and instructions regarding treatment options.