Guest post by David Pittle,
PhD
For
a man with erectile dysfunction, there are many options. Most ED in men below
the age of 45 or so is psychologically based. The drug companies would like to
sell these men Viagra, Cialis or Levitra, but the real solution is
psychological counseling and/or sex therapy.
But
as men age, physical reasons cause more ED. Drugs for blood pressure, or type II
diabetes, psychotropic medications like Zoloft, Prozac, Sertraline all carry
the risk of reduced libido and also affect erections. So what are men in this
situation to do? One great option is the vacuum device.
Vacuum
erection devices are designed to lengthen and strengthen the penis so that
blood will flow into it. The best vacuum devices can create an erection hard
enough for penetration for many men whose erections are no longer automatic. You
can enjoy them as part of couple foreplay to heighten your mutual pleasure.
I
tested two vacuum devices: the Rapport Classic and the Encore Revive.
The
Rapport Classic is a 2-½ inch clear plastic tube of good quality. The whole
length is just over 8 inches. At one end is a manual pump to take the air out
of the tube. At the other end is a part that fits snugly to the tube and for
insertion of the penis. Surround the penis with a large amount of gel lubricant
for a good vacuum seal. (Both the Revive
and the Rapport come with a tube of surgical gel lubricant, which works very
well.)
Before
inserting your penis, you use a supplied cone to load a cock ring onto the
Rapport. Then insert your penis and use the manual pump to exhaust the air.
This draws your penis up into the tube. At the same time, the extension of the
penis creates an internal vacuum that forces blood into the penis, making it
firm enough for vaginal penetration.
When
the penis is long and stiff enough—and before it begins to be painful and even
damaging—you push the cock ring off the tube and down to the base of the penis.
The cock ring is now holds the blood in the penis, keeping it hard. Press a
button on the pump to release the vacuum, and take away the device. You are
left with a good erection.
This
is all much more difficult to describe in words than it is to accomplish. The
Rapport comes with a DVD video that makes the whole thing clear, obvious, and
simple. The Rapport was provided to me by Uand Me Time.
The
Encore Revive is similar to the Rapport and works much the same way, with two
main differences: The Encore Revive comes with both a manual pump which you use
either one-handed like the Rapport or two-handed for more leverage, and with a
battery powered pump. It also has a cock ring release that makes the final step
almost automatic and releases the vacuum pressure at the same time. It also has
a release valve if you decide not to complete the process.
This
video shows how to use the Encore Revive and why it works:
.
Both
the Rapport and the Revive are available online at a a
wide variety of prices. (Links here to Amazon seem to have the best prices.) Both come with a large assortment of cock rings in sizes
from very tiny to very large. A little experimentation will find your best size.
After
trying both the Rapport and the Revive, my vote goes to the Encore Revive. But
that is a very personal preference. I like the battery powered pump. Using the
manual pump required more mental attention and I could not focus as much on the
sensations in my genitals because of the manual effort to achieve a high level
of vacuum. But, as they say, “That’s just me.” Another person may have a
different reaction. Either one of these devices could really improve the sex
life of a man who has tried simpler solutions and not been satisfied.
I’ve
talked about these vacuum devices as though they are only to be used to lead to
intercourse, but actually they also work very well for masturbation. The
erections are strong and allow for a lot of pleasure.
Both
of these are very different from the “fireplug” type of vacuum gadgets often
sold in sex toy stores. The quality of construction and performance of these
two devices is much better than the fireplugs, and not much more expensive.
These items are, as the manufacturers like to remind us, “Medical Grade.” That
means they are well constructed and will last much longer. Also don’t be afraid
of the word “medical.” You don’t need a prescription to buy one.
There
are several other brands of similar devices which I haven’t yet tested. The
advertisements suggest that they all work essentially the same way but the
pricing on the others was also quite a bit higher. None of these other manufacturers
responded to my inquiries.
Vacuum
erection devices are not the same as men’s sex toys that stimulate the penis by
emulating the feel of a vagina, such as the Fleshlight or the Tenga Egg (which
I reviewed here).
DavidM. Pittle, Ph.D., is a therapist in San Rafael, CA, who has been helping people
with sexual issues for over thirty years. Many of his clients are age 50-80,
when good sex is important, and dissatisfaction may lead to loss of shared
intimacy that can threaten the total relationship. David specializes in helping
women who are not experiencing sexual satisfaction and men with non-medical and
medically-related erectile dysfunction or other issues. Visit his website here.
Please see Dr. Pittle's review of the Hitachi Magic Wand and the Tenga Egg.
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