I am 34 and have ED due to high blood pressure and diabetes, and the only treatment option that works for me right now is a pump. I have been using a VED for almost daily exercise and for intercourse since July 2008. Like most men, the rings do cause discomfort to me, but I have just put that out of my mind because this is the only treatment option for now. I also have to use two very tight rings. The rings I use measure 4/16 of an inch diameter. Another problem guys have with the pump and mainly constriction rings is the "hinge effect". Basically you have a rigid penis along the shaft and head in front of the ring, but behind the ring the penis is still floppy. This website mentions the USAMediquip Penile Foam Sleeves under the Pumps subsection under Treatments. These are supposed to help with the ring discomfort and the hinge effect. I finally decided to order one to try it out.
Here is a direct link to the product: http://www.usamediquip.com/proddetail.php?prod=2110-Acc
Earlier this week I ordered one of these penile foam sleeves. I received it yesterday. They offer three sizes based on the erect circumference of your penis. Don't confuse this with diameter, which is measured as a straight line from one side to the other. You can find the circumference of your penis by taking a tailor's tape measure and wrapping it around your penis once. If you don't hae a tailor's measuring tape, just use a string and wrap it once. Hold the string where it meets and measure that. You will get a close enough measurement like that. The sizes offer go from 3" - 3 3/4", 3 3/4" - 4 1/2", and 4 1/2" - 5 1/4". My pumped erect circumference floats between 5 1/2" to 5 3/4". As the instructions for the foam sleeves state, let warm water run over the sleeve to warm it up to body temperature and to also help with stretching. The material the sleeves are made from have some stretch, so I fit comfortably in their largest size. Unless your erect circumfernce is 6" or larger, you should fit into one of the sleeve sizes they offer.
As you see from the picture at the website, the sleeve is a round disk that fits up against the body with a sleeve portion that extends part way up the shaft. They also offer two sizes of sleeve shaft length. I ordered the regular which extends maybe an inch or so. I am not sure how long the extended sleeve shaft is.
As mentioned I received my package yesterday. I must first say I am impressed by the amount of literature included. There was of course the instructions for the foam sleeves. Also included was a good detailed instruction sheet on how to pump. It is much better than the manual that I received with my pump. The sheet talks about using the "pump a little and release" method of pumping. This helps to gradually bring blood into the penis and to let your penis adjust. Then you can pump up to full size. It also prevents you from pumping up too fast and hurting yourself. The thing that impressed me the most was a pamphlet about how to include pumping and the 30 minute restriction time on the rings into love making and working around it. To most of us, it may be stuff we already know, but to someone very new at this, could be the difference in continue treatment versus plain giving up. Most of it is about how important communication is with your partner in order for this to be successful. I will give more information from the pamphlet in another post.
Now, onto the actual use of the foam sleeve and my impressions. After you get your pump and rings set up, lube the sleeve shaft inside and out, and lube the sleeve disk that faces out from the body. Now lube your penis and the base of your skin around it. You should easily be able to pull your flaccid penis through the sleeve. Besure the sleeve disk is right up against your body. Now place the pump over your penis and start pumping normally. The very first thing I noticed is that the sleeve prevented any scrotal sac skin from being drawn into the tube. Drawing in scrotal skin is one of the big complaints about pumping. As I continued to pump up, I noticed that though the sleeve is fitted for 5 1/4", I did not have any issue pumping up to my normal 5 1/2" size. After I was done pumping, I slipped the first ring on, and immediately noticed that I did not really feel the ring. It was much more comfortable. Since I use two rings, I put the pump back on to give a couple of more pumps before slipping the second ring on. I noticed that it was a little more difficult to get the pump back on and get the ring tabs back into the pump to form a seal, but was able to do it without too much trouble. I then slipped the second ring on. Usually this is where I feel the discomfort from the rings. The sleeve though provides plenty of cushion and was more easier to deal with. I personally did not even notice it. After slipping the second ring on, I always put the pump back on to do a final couple of pumps for full engorgement. It was a bit difficult now to get the pump on over two rings and the sleeve. I got it on the best I could and with the vacuum action was able to form a seal and get the final couple of pumps. Really nothing to complain about because of how comfortable the rings feel with the sleeve versus with out it.
For final analysis, I left the rings on for the full 30 minutes, and did not have any pain or discomfort from the rings. The foam sleeve seems to provide plenty of cushion without being too thick. I also had no probem with scrotal skin from being drawn into the tube. As for the "hinge effect", there was much improvement. The sleeve does not fully get rid of the hinge, but it was greatly improved with only a little bit of movement. Other than the slight trouble during my first time using the sleeve putting the pump back on to get the second ring on and do the final pump, I have no complaints. I highly recommend the penile foam sleeves to anyone who uses a pump for intercourse.
