How to choose a VED (Vacuum Erection Device)
Since I had Robotic Prostatectomy 12 years ago it has become quite a popular choice among urologists (would be, wouldn't it?) and men with prostate cancer which hasn't spread. Post surgery help and advice is very patchy, particularly for rehabilitation. VEDs are an important tools but men are at a loss when it comes to buying one. I hope the following survey may be useful to men, before and after surgery, who have chosen prostatectomy for treatment.
Over the past 12 years we have used 4 different pumps and the following survey is based on our experience. I suffer from ED (more due to age than surgery) and mild incontinence when sexually or erotically excited.
Survey
What we are reporting here is our experience of having used 5 different VEDs over 12 years. When looking for a VED you must consider ease of use (including disassembling and reassembling for cleaning), possibility of needing to use 2 rings, no loss of erection-strength when removing the erect penis from the vacuum cylinder and good ergonomic design is a must because you have to operate the device when your hands would have lubricant and/or urine on them. A safety button is necessary to release the vacuum if necessary. We have provided this survey in good faith on the basis of our experience. Every user must make their own judgement and not rely entirely on our recommendations.
SEX SHOP Rating and value for money: Not rated but good value for money£19 + Available in any online sex shop. Only suitable for rehabilitation purpose or just for fun!
SOMAerect Rating and value for money: 5 Good value for money£219-£299: NHS may prescribe this, Easy to use, no loss of vacuum when transferring the ring/s from the cylinder to penis, 3 rings (S M L), safety button, three vacuum tubes to accommodate different sizes of penis, handle operated (difficult for arthritic users), suitable for incontinent users, insert penis in cylinder and then inflate so urine leakage is contained in the cylinder, only 3 parts - easy to disassemble and reassemble for cleaning after every use (recommended)
PRIMUS Rating and Value for money: 5 Very good value for money£183 3 rings, safety button, 1 vacuum cylinder (suitable for average penis size), battery operated (suitable for arthritic users), very easy to use - insert penis in cylinder and then inflate so urine leakage is contained in the cylinder. Only 3 parts - easy to disassemble and reassemble to clean after every use (recommended)
Two More Pumps (Lyn pointed these out recently)
I have also had a look at Osbon Erecaid Esteem and Farmhurst Elite on their websites. They both claim that they are available on the NHS. Osbore Elite is very expensive £319.98 and Farmhurst Elite (£150) is probably the cheapest on the market. In my opinion they are both excellent. I think Farmhurst Elite is an excellent value for money if you don't need a battery operated device.
Vacurect Rating and value for money: 1 and Poor value for money
£202-£298 9 rings (too many unnecessary choices making it difficult for inexperienced users), no safety button, 8 parts (?) , very difficult to disassemble and reassemble for cleaning (recommends cleaning every couple of months - we think it is unhygienic, particularly if you leak urine which many men do after treatment). Over designed and poor ergonomically because of the bulbus-shape which you have to hold when pumping, particularly if there is lubricant and urine present. If you have urine leakage, when you present penis to the hole in the ring, the urine mixes with the lubricant making everything smelly and unpleasant. Many men, including me, report loss of erection when removing the penis from the vacuum cylinder, since there is no 'release' button. In our experience, as others have reported, it is often necessary to put two rings on the penis to maintain a stable erection for half an hour - this is not possible with this pump.
NOTE: Except Osborn Erecaid Esteem and Farmhurst Elite which I also recommend, and apparently available on the NHS, I have personally used all the others over man years.
Edited by member 29 Mar 2023 at 13:26
| Reason: Addition information
'Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that’s not why we do it.' Richard Feynman (1918-1988) Nobel Prize laureate |
User
I have been using many different rings over the past 12 year and I strongly recommend SOMAerect rings. They are relatively easy to put on the pump and take off the penis. They come in three sizes, S, M and L. Medium is ideal and I find that if my erection fades, which does with the Medium ring, I use two rings; Medium at the base of the penis and the Large one on top of that. That maintains a strong erection for the full half hour. Try it.
'Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that’s not why we do it.' Richard Feynman (1918-1988) Nobel Prize laureate |
User
They are clear soft ones. Suppliers: iMEDIicare for SIOMAerect pumps.
Edited by member 10 Apr 2023 at 23:59
| Reason: More details
'Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that’s not why we do it.' Richard Feynman (1918-1988) Nobel Prize laureate |
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As above , ideally if you want a pump for rehab AND good penetration you need a pro pump ideally. I have the Soma Erect Response 2. But nearly £200.
But if you want rehab only then any simple pump from Lovehoney will do. Either way you DO need a pump and get on with rehab for the rest of your days !!!
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Thanks for the replies.
My key worker said my GP would prescribe one on the NHS. The GP said “we don’t offer this”. Confused!
User
We had the GP prescribe ours. I really don’t get it, it’s so frustrating….if we can get one why can’t you? I can understand if no one did but the postcode lottery is ridiculous.
Could you maybe speak to or write to your GP to say how much it is needed and how much everything you have gone/going through is affecting you.
I wrote (a fairly long letter 🤦🏻♀️) to our GP saying how disappointed I was that we weren’t getting the necessary support after my husbands operation….I have to say things definitely improved and my husband often receives calls directly from GP to see how he is getting on.
Worth a try maybe as they can be really expensive. Good luck
User
Hi nmac,
I was referred by the Urologist to the Erectile Dysfunction Clinic. It was the nurse there who made the referral to my G.P. There was no problem with getting a pump, Alprostadil injections and Cialis. I don't know what route you took, but if you didn't go via the E.D. Clinic, it might be worth trying again.
As others have said, a cheap one (£30-ish) from Love Honey (other sellers are available) will do a basic job, and you will need a cock ring as well. But it probably will only be good for rehab., not penetration. That said, I have the NHS- prescribed one and my erection is still not good enough for penetration anyway, so they're not all they're cracked up to be. But definitely worth it for rehab.
Good luck.
User
Being referred to the sexual health clinic is also a lottery. I will have waited 6 months post op by the time I am referred. At which point I may have been able to get a pump on the NHS. In my area it's defo self help. Obviously I discussed starting using a pump with the uro-oncology nurses and surgeon first.
User
When i very first received my diagnosis regards prostate cancer, i was then refered immediately to a Macmillan nurse who sat and talked to myself and my wife about all eventualities. She gave me a completed referal/order form for a Soma erect response 2 kit to hand in to my local gp who signed and ordered one for me.
It may be worth you speaking with Macmillan for advise on this matter.
Worth asking and hope you get sorted
User
I noted your comment and was encouraged that some trusts are taking the 'issue' more serious. But it's a postcode lottery. I can't get Cialis or Tadalafil prescribed, 'we don't do that now', where as some trust still do....
User
Which trust are you under Jim?
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
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Subbuteo27: Thanks for your message and kind offer - which I’d like to accept. I’ve been trying to reply but Im getting this: “To protect our members from spam, newly registered members aren't allowed to send private messages. Private messaging will become available after you've participated more in public conversations.”
Could you send me another private message with an alternative way to contact you? Thanks again.
User
I got my pump through the nhs hospital my consultant requested it as part of re hab. I attended a 15min appointment at hospital where i was showed how to use it. Then I was issued a prescription that I handed in at the chemist and it arrived a few days later.
User
Gentlemen, I need some advice. I am 10 months post prostatectomy. I started pump rehab in month 2. How often do you pump? How much is TOO MUCH and how much is NOT ENOUGH??
User
Use the pump everyday.
How much do I pump. I tend to know I've gone OTT when it starts to feel a little uncomfortable so let some air out.
The pump is one part of rehabilitation, touching and stimulation I find just as useful. I have seen small improvements since September 2022 so for me it's marathon not a race.
User
I got my pump a few years ago. I'm pretty sure I was told "once a week" for rehab and after that as often as you like within reason
User
As Jim said, I find feel and touch just as good as the pump. In fact I even reached a big ‘O’ last week and it came(sorry🤣🤣🤣) as quite a shock. If your partner knows where your sensitive ‘bits’ are, I think it can give you immense pleasure.
I am one of the ‘second class’ citizens from the NHS point of view who seem to think that an NHS pump is not appropriate for those on HT? Why? Because we have no Libido? We can be up to 3 years(or longer) on this ghastly stuff so why shouldn’t we have rehab so that when we emerge out the other side we have a ‘working Willy’?
Rant over…I feel better now😊
User
Would recommend anyone who has a pump to get some advice on how to use it correctly. I use the Soma 2 and after getting good advice about shaving and heating the rings, I can now manage a cracking erection. Also use a Bathmate pump most days as excercise as I do not have any natural erections. Really improved my mood.
User
I remember finding a bit of research somewhere a long time back which found that men who have the pump demoed on them in clinic were twice as likely to use it at home successfully afterwards. (It was trying to say it's only worth giving men pumps where there is the facility to demo it on the patient in clinic.)