Getting an implant even though pills work?

[considering89]

I'm 31 years old and in a long-term dating relationship that's moving in the direction of marriage. I began having ED in April 2021 after being single for 1.5 years. My ED has no known physical cause, but my nocturnal erections are extremely weak and I cannot get an erection from masturbation.

That said, pills work. Viagra allows me to have successful sex basically 10/10 times. I have zero side effects. We have a lot of sex -- essentially once a day and twice a day sometimes on weekends. My girlfriend is pleased with our sex life. She says it's the best she's ever had. Loves my dick. She knows I take pills and has no issues with it.

That said, I struggle to mentally/emotionally "accept" needing pills. A few reasons:

- Lack of spontaneity.
- Mental energy of constantly planning (food, take 1 hour prior, etc.).
- I continuously feel aware that I can't just have sex with her at a moment's notice. Even though we're probably not going to have sex in a given moment, I just hate knowing that I probably couldn't even if we tried.
- Given our sex drives, this becomes a lot of pills. When we get married, I'll basically be taking a pill every day.

It seems a general view is, if pills work, don't get an implant. But at the same time, I'm depressed about my ED, and I hate taking pills for the above reasons. I can't stop thinking about the implant and never again needing to think about Pill Logistics. Right now, my quality of life is absolutely zero. I struggle to function or enjoy anything in life, due to depression from ED.

My questions are:

(1) Should I just come to peace with needing pills and forget the implant for now? Any mindset tips that I can use to accept the pills as a solution for now?
(2) Has Daily Cialis been effective for anyone? My urologist actually prescribed the 5mg Daily Cialis and I've been taking it -- the problem is that I've never just "trusted" it. I always stack 100mg of Viagra on top of it just for peace of mind and confidence. Should I try the Daily Cialis on its own (no Viagra) and see if that alleviates some of my depression if it helps me be "always on"?
(3) Or, is it "okay" to just jump to an implant if pills work but are not a satisfactory treatment and my ED is significantly degrading my quality of life/mental state?

Thanks as always.

[Txagq8]

This is my opinion. It’s not based on science, technology, insights into future medical breakthroughs, religion, or philosophy. It’s one guy’s opinion, take it or leave it, for what it’s worth.

Hell no I wouldn’t have surgery. Pills work. You’re able to take them with little or no trouble/side effects. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

I’m not averse to the idea of risk. Surgical risk is pretty damned low. I’m not opposed to the idea of an implant. I have one. But before I allowed anyone to tear out my wiring and basically terminate any possibility of me having natural erections I would want to make sure I had exhausted less invasive options.

You’re 31 and pills work well. The idea of an implant ought not even be on your radar screen for now. The only thing I’d be trying to do, if I were you, is to find a doctor who could find out why I am experiencing ED. It’s not always a diagnosis. Quite often it’s a symptom.

Keep enjoying your blue pills. Maybe at some point they’ll come up with extended release sildenafil for daily use. Or a nasal spray version that works in seconds, not a half hour.

[LuisFernandez]

Hell no. Take daily cialis to ensure you get nightly erections. Use a VED very slightly to avoid atrophy IF cialis doesn’t work.

If you want something more spontaneous use injections.

[Boatman678]

Just take the pills as long as you can. I hated them and thought they were a big deal at the time. They were also expensive then. Could not afford frequent sex. Now they are super cheap. After moving into injections etc. I look back on the pill days and think, not that much trouble. Move on to other things as needed.

[Lost Sheep]

I'm 31 years old and in a long-term dating relationship that's moving in the direction of marriage. I began having ED in April 2021 after being single for 1.5 years. My ED has no known physical cause, but my nocturnal erections are extremely weak and I cannot get an erection from masturbation.

That said, pills work. Viagra allows me to have successful sex basically 10/10 times. I have zero side effects. We have a lot of sex -- essentially once a day and twice a day sometimes on weekends. My girlfriend is pleased with our sex life. She says it's the best she's ever had. Loves my dick. She knows I take pills and has no issues with it.

That said, I struggle to mentally/emotionally "accept" needing pills. A few reasons:

- Lack of spontaneity.
- Mental energy of constantly planning (food, take 1 hour prior, etc.).
- I continuously feel aware that I can't just have sex with her at a moment's notice. Even though we're probably not going to have sex in a given moment, I just hate knowing that I probably couldn't even if we tried.
- Given our sex drives, this becomes a lot of pills. When we get married, I'll basically be taking a pill every day.

It seems a general view is, if pills work, don't get an implant. But at the same time, I'm depressed about my ED, and I hate taking pills for the above reasons. I can't stop thinking about the implant and never again needing to think about Pill Logistics. Right now, my quality of life is absolutely zero. I struggle to function or enjoy anything in life, due to depression from ED.

My questions are:

(1) Should I just come to peace with needing pills and forget the implant for now? Any mindset tips that I can use to accept the pills as a solution for now?
(2) Has Daily Cialis been effective for anyone? My urologist actually prescribed the 5mg Daily Cialis and I've been taking it -- the problem is that I've never just "trusted" it. I always stack 100mg of Viagra on top of it just for peace of mind and confidence. Should I try the Daily Cialis on its own (no Viagra) and see if that alleviates some of my depression if it helps me be "always on"?
(3) Or, is it "okay" to just jump to an implant if pills work but are not a satisfactory treatment and my ED is significantly degrading my quality of life/mental state?

Thanks as always.

I used pills (and went through every one of them) for as long as I could.

I also used other means of sex (and recommend them, since even with an implant, they provide good satisfaction). Cunnilingus, hands and toys. With those tools, an hour of foreplay is not wasted time while waiting for a pill to take effect.

I interviewed a surgeon prior to my implant. He told me a story of a young man, impotent, in whom he placed an implant. A short while later, Viagra was approved by the FDA. Years later this still bothered him because the young man would have been an excellent candidate for the medication rather than the invasive implant option.

How would you feel if you opted for an implant while pills still worked for you and next month a better implant were available (e.g. a self-pumping remote-controlled implant that emulates a natural erection much better than the manually pumped ones we have now) or an actual cure or a better alternative than an implant.

All this to say, an implant is a last resort. It is irreversible and leaves you permanently, completely impotent and totally dependent on the device for erections. Do you want to take that step? I did. But I was functionally impotent by then, my erections were useless for coital sex (but not for fellatio or masturbation) and I decided to go for the best available and do not regret it. But you can still have coitus more or less naturally, without the risks and cost of surgery. A natural erection is better in many respects than an implant.

Weigh your options and make your choice.

Talk it over with your fiance. She will be going through the operation with you (emotionally).

As far as your depression is concerned, if it is due solely to your ED, you can fix that by changing your attitude. Life's circumstances do not make us feel bad. WE make us feel bad. If your depression is from another cause than ED, you may benefit by counseling, medication or other treatments because a working erection is not likely to affect those other causes.

Your quality of life just because of a lack of sexual ability is subject to this advice: "In a marriage, if the sex is bad, it is 90% of a relationship. If the sex is good, it is 10%". Keep things in perspective.

[Lost Sheep]

(1) Should I just come to peace with needing pills and forget the implant for now? Any mindset tips that I can use to accept the pills as a solution for now?
(2) Has Daily Cialis been effective for anyone? My urologist actually prescribed the 5mg Daily Cialis and I've been taking it -- the problem is that I've never just "trusted" it. I always stack 100mg of Viagra on top of it just for peace of mind and confidence. Should I try the Daily Cialis on its own (no Viagra) and see if that alleviates some of my depression if it helps me be "always on"?
(

After some more reflection, I want to repeat that as long as the pills worked, I used them.

But I also want to address the "mindset" issue you brought up. You are not in this alone. Your fiance is intimately involved in these issues and will be gladdened and honored to be included in heling you deal with ALL the issues with which you are struggling. You are considering including her in your life. Do not exclude her from this or any other aspect of your life. (This is my philosophy of marriage, so take it or leave it.)

When she is part of your thought processes, you can try "trusting" the Cialis without fear of disappointing her or embarrassing yourself. If the 5mg Cialis does not give you (two) a satisfactory erection and sexual experience, she will understand and be patient. I guarantee it. If she is not, then, trust me, you don't want to marry her. Just be sure you have been completely candid with her. She will surprise you, happily.

Women (at least those who are worthy of marriage) are incredibly supportive if they feel desired, trusted, respected and safe. Trust her. Let her know by your words and actions that you want to please her and that trust her with your innermost secrets. If your erection fails, she will not feel you do not love her. She will know that you are trying your best and that the next time will be better.

Better yet, if you are willing to give her orgasms by other means, she will appreciate that solid demonstration of your desire to please her. and that you desire her for more than just your own orgasms. Thus, she will know that you desire her with your whole beinng and not just the 2 percent of your body weight that dangles between your legs.

[aslanglobal]

I'm gonna second the "hell no"s here. Pills alone stopped working for me before 30. If viagra/cialis combo gave me a quality boner even 50% of the time, I wouldn't have considered an implant. Be grateful you just need to take a pill. And so what? We drink and eat contaminated food and are surrounded by devices that emit radiation. I'm sure if they took you exactly as you are and placed you on the Steppe 800 years ago, you would've been an unstoppable beast with no need for pills. Be glad that's all you need in our modern world.

I went through surgery recently after years of isolation. I do not regret it, but I had exhausted all options and even, really, lived in denial for longer than I needed about solutions that weren't really helping. But the surgery isn't exactly like just popping in some new batteries. It's week 3 and I'm still often in bed, icing my dick and balls. Your solution is working. Ride that horse for as long as it will take you. You have your natural plumbing and its great, it just needs a little fuel in the tank. ENJOY IT, shamelessly.

[confused95]

I'm gonna second the "hell no"s here. Pills alone stopped working for me before 30. If viagra/cialis combo gave me a quality boner even 50% of the time, I wouldn't have considered an implant. Be grateful you just need to take a pill. And so what? We drink and eat contaminated food and are surrounded by devices that emit radiation. I'm sure if they took you exactly as you are and placed you on the Steppe 800 years ago, you would've been an unstoppable beast with no need for pills. Be glad that's all you need in our modern world.

I went through surgery recently after years of isolation. I do not regret it, but I had exhausted all options and even, really, lived in denial for longer than I needed about solutions that weren't really helping. But the surgery isn't exactly like just popping in some new batteries. It's week 3 and I'm still often in bed, icing my dick and balls. Your solution is working. Ride that horse for as long as it will take you. You have your natural plumbing and its great, it just needs a little fuel in the tank. ENJOY IT, shamelessly.

Great to read you are feeling much better (also psychologically). So happy for you mate!

[oldbeek]

Double HELL NO !!! Nothing beats a blood filled dick

[Jonarr]

Hi I think you’re getting good advice from some very compassionate and wise men and the consensus seems to be don’t do it. At the same time that isn’t going to alleviate the very real feelings of despair and depression you are feeling right now. It might even not be what you want to hear, as when one is feeling the pain you are in right now there’s an urgency to do something different, anything seems better than this. Please be mindful though that just because there are lots of guys on here who are happy with their implant doesn’t mean you would be too. There are loads of things that you could despair about and negative thoughts that you could project onto the implant. Most of the guys on here would do anything to swap with you - being able to make love with the pils successfully without side effects. And then consider the risks and how you would feel if you were one of the unlucky ones and the procedure went wrong. I would ask you to consider your main problem right now is not the ED - but your feelings of depression and your negative thoughts about ED. The solution is to seek psychosexual/counselling help and potentially medical/pharmacological help for depression. And keep connected with guys on the forums who understand what you’re going through