Penis Pumps: A Gimmick or an Effective Tool for Sexual Health?

You might have trouble “getting it up” in the heat of the moment for several reasons. Alcohol, stress, poor sleep, and sexual health disorders like erectile dysfunction (ED) can all make it challenging to get erect —which could put a damper on your sexual relationships with your partner(s). A go-to method that’s been around for decades is the penis pump. Many use it as a quick way to get the blood flowing to the right areas, but do penis pumps work, or are they just a gimmick?

To find out if penis pumps are truly worth your time and money, we went to the experts. Here's what they said.

What is a penis pump?

A penis pump, also known as a vacuum erection device (VED) or a penile pump, is an instrument a person can use to stimulate and erection for sexual intercourse when penetration is desired. 

Most adult stores and online retailers like Amazon sell these devices, but a healthcare provider can also prescribe them for people with ED.

What does a penis pump do?

So, what do penis pumps do? Simply put, they can help you get hard in a short period. 

Penis pumps can be especially helpful for men and people with penises who are dealing with ED or impotence. This is a condition in which someone is unable to get or maintain an erection firm enough to engage in sexual activity. 

“For those dealing with ED, a pump can come in handy when other methods aren’t cutting it,” says David Shusterman, MD, a board-certified urologist and the CEO and Founder of Modern Urology. 

How do penis pumps work?

Now that we've covered the basics, let's talk about how penis pumps actually work. Interestingly enough, the answer is similarly to a household vacuum. 

“First, the penis is inserted into a cylindrical chamber,” Shusterman says. “Next, a pump is used to remove air from the cylinder, creating a vacuum. This vacuum draws blood into the penis, causing it to swell and become erect. Finally, once an erection is achieved, a constriction ring is placed at the base of the penis to maintain the erection.”

That being said, please do not use a household vacuum as a DIY penis pump.

There are several types of penis pumps out there, including:

• Manual: This penile pump — the most common type — requires squeezing a rubber bulb to create a vacuum. 
• Electric: If you’re not a fan of manual labor or have a medical condition that can make hand pumping painful or uncomfortable, a battery-powered electric dick pump might be the better option for you. 
• Water: Hydropumps like the Bathmate HydroMax Penis Pump use water instead of air to create a vacuum. You can use these in the shower or bath to get an erection.

Before using a penis pump, there are a few steps you should take to keep your member injury-free. 

Here are instructions for how to use a vacuum pump for erectile dysfunction:

1. Place a small amount of water-soluble lubricant on the penis and around the opening of the tube.
2. Place the tube over your penis.
3. Use the pump to gently pull air out of the tube. This will create a vacuum that can lead to an erection.
4. Slide the band off the tube’s end and onto the base of your penis to maintain the erection. Then, remove the tube.
5. Be sure to keep the band for 30 minutes max to prevent injury.
6. After removing the band, your penis will go back to its regular length. 
7. Make sure you wait at least an hour before using your penis pump again.

Please be aware that using an erectile dysfunction pump trial-and-error at first. So, don’t be too hard on yourself if you can’t achieve an erection on the first try. 

Are penis pumps safe?

The short answer is, yes!

“Penis pumps are inherently safe because they’re acting as a secondary pump to the heart to assist with getting an erection,” says Lance Frank, PT, DPT, MPH, a pelvic health physical therapist and owner of Flex PT ATL. “This additional vacuum can help safely draw more blood flow into the penis.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves some vacuum pumps — categorized as external penile rigidity devices — to be used in combination with other erectile dysfunction treatments. 

However, there are a few caveats to using a penis pump. The FDA recommends that people with certain medical conditions should avoid these penis pumps as using these devices may aggravate conditions like Peyronie’s disease, priapism, and urethral structures.

And according to Frank, side effects of hand pumping may include bruising or sores if used for prolonged periods or too often.

“Pumps that use air as the vacuum will sometimes create an inconsistent vacuum because air isn’t as stable under pressure, so the suction won’t be uniform,” he explains.

Because of this, Frank recommends water penis pumps. “Hydropumps use water as the vacuum medium, and since water is more stable under pressure, the suction is more uniform around the shaft of the penis, greatly reducing the risk of any kind of bruise or sore,” he says.

Do penis pumps actually work?

“Penis pumps are effective at helping to get an erection, and, with the use of a constriction (cock) ring, maintaining the erection,” Frank says. “If used regularly, many men report improved satisfaction with their erection quality.”

According to a 2018 systematic review, using a penis pump results in a 77 percent satisfaction rate among patients with ED and their partners. An older study published in 2013 suggests that penis pumps may improve ED symptoms and preserve the size of the penis after a radical prostatectomy (a surgical procedure for prostate cancer). 

Can penis pumps improve girth or size?

“No, pumps do not increase size or girth,” Shusterman says. “While they can temporarily make the penis appear larger by increasing blood flow, this effect is not lasting.”

However, Frank shares one device that might provide longer-lasting results. “If used regularly over time, people who have used a hydropump have reported increases in size gains,” he says.

How long do the results from penis pumps work?

The effects from a penis pump don’t last very long, with many product manufacturers stating that your penis will return to its normal size within 30 minutes. Cock rings could lengthen your erection, but it’s advised that you don’t use them longer than 30 minutes, as it could lead to swelling and injuries.

Are penis pumps better than Viagra?

Viagra, or sildenafil, is a medication that a healthcare provider prescribes as a first-line treatment for erectile dysfunction. 

“Medications like Viagra are a class of medications known as PDE5 inhibitors,” Frank says. “These medications work by improving the release of nitric oxide, which allows the blood vessels throughout the body to dilate, contributing to more blood flow into the penis.”

In comparison to penis pumps, older research reveals that Viagra has a success rate of 91 percent among men and people with penises struggling with ED.

Yet, Frank says people may choose penis pumps over Viagra to avoid contraindications (conditions where taking a certain medication may be harmful).

“Viagra may give people headaches or hypertension, so if PDE5 inhibitor medications are contraindicated for patients, penis pumps are the better and safer alternative,” he says.

With all that said, it doesn’t mean that one is necessarily better than the other. In fact, people with ED may increase their chances of better sexual performance by using them both.

“Penis pumps alone can be effective at assisting with erections,” Frank explains. “However, the combination of penis pumps with PDE5 inhibitor medications can have a significant impact on a person's ability to get an erection.”

The Bottom Line

It’s safe to say that penile pumps are effective for those seeking a quick way to get an erection, but be cautious when using them.

“Using pumps to treat erectile dysfunction can be safe and effective, but it's important to use them correctly to avoid any risks,” Shusterman says. “Be sure to follow the guidelines provided, consider any health conditions you may have, and stop using the pump if you feel any pain or discomfort.”