Generally, a penis pump is used for one of two reasons: either because there exists a penis health concern that makes the use of a penis pump necessary for a man to achieve an erection or because he enjoys the cosmetic and visual appeal of “pumping up” his penis (and sometimes his testicles) to a larger size. For whichever reason a man may use a penis pump, he should be aware that the potential for penis injury exists and that he should take steps to minimize any possible injury (for obvious reasons).

How it works

First, let’s be clear that this article is discussing vacuum penis pumping. This is not about “pumping” silicone or other matter into the penis to make it larger, which is incredibly dangerous and should never be done.

Basically, with vacuum pumping, a cylinder is placed around the penis and tightly sealed. A second cylinder on the end of the penis then pumps the air out of the first cylinder; this creates a vacuum, which in turn draws blood into the penis. As the penis fills with blood, it becomes erect, and a constricting device helps keep the blood trapped in the penis. When used by men who have erectile difficulties, they are then in an erect state for a variable amount of time and can hopefully engage in sexual activity.

When used for non-medicinal purposes, many men may “overpump,” causing the penis to grow significantly larger than its normal erect state. The bulk of this expansion tends to come in girth rather than length. As mentioned, sometimes men also apply the pump to the testicles for a swollen balls effect.

Penis injury

There is always a risk of penis injury when pumping, although the risk is minimized following the directions carefully. Many doctors believe that only those with legitimate erectile issues should use the pump and that utilizing it for cosmetic or non-essential uses greatly increases the risk of penis injury.

Among the possible forms of penis injury which may result from pump use are:

• Bruises and blisters, especially on the glans, which is generally more sensitive than other parts of the penis. In addition to being painful, bruises and blisters generally require that a man refrain from sex and masturbation (which aggravate them) until they are healed.

• Color change, tissue damage. Use of a penis pump for an extended period of time can cause the penis skin color to darken due to lack of oxygen. Because blood is typically trapped in the penis until the constricting device is removed, new oxygen cannot get in as the old oxygen is used up, causing a color change. If the lack of oxygen goes on for too long, it can cause severe damage to penile tissue.

• Blood vessel damage. With blood being forced into the penis at a high rate, there is the potential for a blood vessel to rupture, which can in turn have an impact on erectile ability.

• Fracture. In rare cases, a penis fracture can result if overinflation of the penis causes tissue to stretch beyond its capability.

To prevent such injuries, it is crucial to follow instructions carefully. Going slow, taking his time and not overdoing things are essential – especially among men who are using the pump for non-medially-prescribed purposes.

Pain and soreness is a relatively minor penis injury that can result from use of a pump, as is superficial damage to penis skin.. Regular use of a top drawer penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) can be of use with these problems. Keeping the penis well moisturized will both help heal the skin and reduce many forms of soreness. Therefore, select a crème that includes both Shea butter (a high-end emollient) and vitamin E (one of nature’s best hydrators). For even better results, make sure the crème also includes alpha lipoic acid. This potent antioxidant battles the free radicals that can result in oxidative damage to delicate penis skin.