Sex & Relationships
Do Penis Pumps Work? What to Know About Vacuum Erection Devices, According to Experts.
Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. We may earn a commission through links on our site. Why Trust Us?
IF YOU'VE EVER felt a little less than confident about your penis size, rest assured you’re not alone. According to a 2021 survey, almost half of all male respondents have experienced sexual performance anxiety relating to their junk, and 29% felt shame about it. As for whether penis pumps can help make your penis larger? The answer is yes and no.
Contrary to what you might have heard, penis pumps won't permanently supersize your member. However, by increasing blood flow down there, these handy little devices can help you to get—and stay—as hard as possible, resulting in more pleasurable sex for all parties involved. Seeing as erectile dysfunction (ED) affects about one-third of men, it’s no wonder why penis pumps have continued to surge in popularity. (And hey, a good old-fashioned erection is one way to make your penis larger, at least temporarily; it can grow up to 3 inches when you’re aroused.)
So, how exactly do penis pumps work? And can they really enable you to level up your sex life.
Try This 5-Minute Dumbbell Workout | Men’s Health
What is a penis pump?
In simple terms, a penis pump is a non-invasive device that creates negative pressure to suction blood into the blood vessels around your member. These pumps—also known as vacuum erection devices (VEDs)—can use air or water to create this pressure. By causing an increase in blood flow to the penis, the device produces an erection.
Fun fact: penis pumps have been around for a pretty long time. American physician John King is credited with inventing this contraption in 1874. The problem with King’s prototype, though, was that the user lost their erection as soon as the pump was removed. Needless to say, these devices have come a long way since then.
Do penis pumps really work?
Experts agree that penis pumps do, indeed, help men get a long-lasting erection. In fact, 2018 research shows that penis pumps can help people with ED achieve an erection about 90% of the time. Up to 77% of people with ED and their partners report being satisfied with the benefits of using a penis pump.
“VEDs do not require surgery or injections, and are effective in producing an erection in many men,” says Amy Pearlman, MD, a board-certified urologist, men’s sexual health specialist, and co-founder of Prime Institute.
Studies suggest that penis pumps can also help preserve penis size and function and reduce shrinkage, following prostate cancer surgery.
Do Penis Pumps Work? What to Know About Vacuum Erection Devices, According to Experts.
Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. We may earn a commission through links on our site. Why Trust Us?
IF YOU'VE EVER felt a little less than confident about your penis size, rest assured you’re not alone. According to a 2021 survey, almost half of all male respondents have experienced sexual performance anxiety relating to their junk, and 29% felt shame about it. As for whether penis pumps can help make your penis larger? The answer is yes and no.
Contrary to what you might have heard, penis pumps won't permanently supersize your member. However, by increasing blood flow down there, these handy little devices can help you to get—and stay—as hard as possible, resulting in more pleasurable sex for all parties involved. Seeing as erectile dysfunction (ED) affects about one-third of men, it’s no wonder why penis pumps have continued to surge in popularity. (And hey, a good old-fashioned erection is one way to make your penis larger, at least temporarily; it can grow up to 3 inches when you’re aroused.)
So, how exactly do penis pumps work? And can they really enable you to level up your sex life.
Try This 5-Minute Dumbbell Workout | Men’s Health
What is a penis pump?
In simple terms, a penis pump is a non-invasive device that creates negative pressure to suction blood into the blood vessels around your member. These pumps—also known as vacuum erection devices (VEDs)—can use air or water to create this pressure. By causing an increase in blood flow to the penis, the device produces an erection.
Fun fact: penis pumps have been around for a pretty long time. American physician John King is credited with inventing this contraption in 1874. The problem with King’s prototype, though, was that the user lost their erection as soon as the pump was removed. Needless to say, these devices have come a long way since then.
Do penis pumps really work?
Experts agree that penis pumps do, indeed, help men get a long-lasting erection. In fact, 2018 research shows that penis pumps can help people with ED achieve an erection about 90% of the time. Up to 77% of people with ED and their partners report being satisfied with the benefits of using a penis pump.
“VEDs do not require surgery or injections, and are effective in producing an erection in many men,” says Amy Pearlman, MD, a board-certified urologist, men’s sexual health specialist, and co-founder of Prime Institute.
Studies suggest that penis pumps can also help preserve penis size and function and reduce shrinkage, following prostate cancer surgery.