Penile Injection Therapy

Most men experiencing Erectile Dysfunction (ED) may be treated with penile injection therapy. You may see this also referred to as “intracavernosal injection therapy.” This treatment refers to an injection of a single or combination of medications that increases the blood flow to the penis (vasodilation).

The injection is placed into the side of the penis shaft by using a syringe with an extremely thin needle. The shot is done when a person wants to engage in sexual activity with the onset of the erection seen usually between 5-10 minutes and the duration of the erection ranging from 30 minutes to two hours.

There are several medications that are included in the shot. Various combinations may be custom blended to create the right dose for the degree of ED severity. Hence, there are “Bimix” injections that include two drugs as well as “Trimix” dosing with three medications and even “QuadMix” mixtures available as well.

Broward Urology Center works with several national and local compound pharmacies that create these custom medication blends for our patients at competitive prices and convenient home delivery to ensure discreteness and privacy. These medications have been used for many years by urologists and are still readily available by prescription from numerous compounding pharmacies. There is no need to join an expensive “Men’s Club” or have a “package deal” at a clinic posing to be urologists who treat ED.

Penile Injection Instructions

General Preparations

  1. Wash your hands
  2. Gather the following: Bottle of the Medication, Alcohol Pad and Syringe

Syringe Preparation

  1. Remove the medication vial from the refrigerator.
  2. Remove the foil that is covering the rubber top of the vial.
  3. Wipe the top of the vial with an alcohol pad.
  4. After removing the cap of the insulin syringe needle, pull the plunger back to the indicated dosage filling the syringe with air.
  5. Insert the needle through the rubber top of the vial and inject air from the syringe into the vial.
  6. Turn the vial upside down with the needle still inserted and pull back on the plunger of the syringe until the indicated amount of the medication is drawn up.
  7. Eliminate any air bubbles in the syringe by gently tapping on the side of the syringe and injection the air bubbles back into the vial or by pulling back and forth with the plunger
  8. Sometimes it is easier to get rid of the air bubbles by pulling on the plunger past the amount that is prescribed and then injecting the extra medicine back into the vial and at the same time injecting the air bubbles out of the syringe

Penile Injection

We recommend doing the injection close to the base of the penis shaft most of the time. The injection must be done at about the 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock locations (see diagram). Do NOT inject directly at the top of the penis (12 o’clock) because you may cause injury to the nerves or veins that are located there. Also do NOT inject on the bottom of the penis (6 o’clock) as this may lead to some bleeding form the urethra (pee tube).

Injections are rotated within that area and the side of the injection is alternated with each injection. Please avoid injecting the same spot each and every time as this may increase the chances of scarring and penile curvature.

Other ED Treatment Options

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