How you prepare

When you see your doctor about erectile dysfunction, be prepared to answer a number of questions about your health and your symptoms. In some cases, erectile dysfunction has an underlying cause that can be treated.

Depending on your condition, you might need to see a doctor who specializes in treating urinary and reproductive disorders (urologist).

To determine whether a penis pump is a good treatment option for you, your doctor might ask about:

• Any illnesses you have now or have had in the past
• Any injuries or surgeries you've had, especially those involving your penis, testicles or prostate
• What medications you take, including herbal supplements
• What erectile dysfunction treatments you've tried and how well they worked

Your doctor will likely do a physical exam, which typically includes checking your genitals and feeling your pulse in arteries in different parts of your body (peripheral arteries).

Your doctor might perform a digital rectal examination (DRE) to check your prostate gland. During a DRE, your doctor will gently insert a lubricated, gloved finger into your rectum to feel the surface of the prostate.

If the cause of your erectile dysfunction is already known when you see your doctor, your appointment might be less involved.

Choosing a penis pump

Some penis pumps are available without a prescription, but talk to your doctor before purchasing one. Your doctor might recommend or prescribe a specific model. That way you can be sure it suits your needs and that it's made by a reputable manufacturer.

Penis pumps available online, in magazines and sex ads might not be safe or effective. Make sure the penis pump you use has a vacuum limiter, which keeps pressure from getting too high and injuring your penis.

Before using a penis pump for the first time, you might want to trim or shave any pubic hair near the base of your penis so that it doesn't get caught in the ring.

Penis pumps for penis enlargement

Many advertisements in magazines and on the internet market penis pumps with the claim that they can be used to increase penis size, but there's no evidence that they work for this purpose. Attempting to use a penis pump specifically to enlarge your penis could cause injury.