Penile Prosthesis Could Help with Erectile Dysfunction-Related Depression
Erectile dysfunction (ED) can impact mental health and put strain on intimate relationships. This can also affect a man’s overall quality of life and may lead to depression. Recent statistics suggest that up to one-fourth of men who have ED also suffer from depression.
ED can contribute to depression, but depression can also contribute to ED. This cycle can lead to a low sex drive (libido) or anxiety around sexual activity. Men may also struggle to seek treatment or medical advice.
Some research suggests that treating ED with a penile implant may also help with sexual distress related to mental health. Recently, a study used health records from across the United States to explore this relationship.
The records included men with chronic or organic ED who received a penile implant. Their average age was 65. Many were overweight, diabetic, or had high blood pressure or high cholesterol. About one-third of the patients had experienced prostate cancer or clogged arteries (ischemic heart disease). Of these patients, 255 had mental health questionnaire results that researchers could use to study depression or anxiety.
These included the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), which measures depression and psychological distress, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) questionnaire, which measures anxiety. Results were compared with a reference group of men with ED who did not receive penile implants.
Depression After Penile Implant Surgery
The results showed that depression symptoms improved after implant surgery, but anxiety did not. Among patients who had at least mild symptoms before implantation:
- PHQ-4 scores decreased by 53.7% post-implant surgery.
- PHQ-2 scores decreased by 46.7% post-implant surgery.
- PHQ-9 scores decreased by 23.5% post-implant surgery.
- GAD scores showed no improvement.
The number of patients who reported “moderate” to “severe” depression (based on the questionnaires) decreased by over 20% after implantation. In the reference group, this number decreased by only 12%.
Medications showed a similar pattern. There were 597 patients with prescriptions for antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications. About four out of 10 patients with a penile implant stopped their prescriptions within a year. About three out of 10 patients without an implant stopped their prescriptions.
These results suggest that treating ED with an inflatable or malleable penile implant may also help relieve depression symptoms associated with ED.
Previous research also supports a link between penile implants and psychological health. Studies have found improvements in mood, self-esteem, and depression symptoms. However, few studies have used the PHQ-9 to compare depression before and after implant surgery. This study was also limited by the number of patients with questionnaire results from both before and after the surgery.
Key Takeaways
- This real-world study looked at the potential for penile implants to improve symptoms of depression in men with organic or chronic ED.
- Depression symptoms improved after an inflatable or malleable penile implant, which contributed to improvement in ED symptoms compared to a reference group.
- These results highlight the importance of mental health screening for men with ED. Patients and providers can also discuss the available options for treating ED and related depression symptoms. If ED is causing psychological distress, it may be beneficial to speak with a healthcare provider.
Resources
Khera, M., Andrew, A. S., Kang, W., Liu, G., Reiling, C. M., Roane, A., & Nelson, C. J. (2026). Implantable penile prosthesis treatment of erectile dysfunction is associated with relief from depression. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 23(9). Oxford Academic. https://doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdag262
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