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Abstract Introduction Inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) is the gold standard restorative treatment for patients with erectile dysfunction. While patient satisfaction rates are high, little is known about the experiences of patients who are dissatisfied with their IPP. Objective As a first step towards improving patient experience with IPP, we aimed to understand patient usage patterns and reasons for dissatisfaction. Methods We identified all patients who underwent an IPP implantation by a single surgeon over a 5-year period, between 2021 and 2025. Using telephone and email surveys, we collected demographics, sexual behavior characteristics of patients and their partners, as well as patient experiences using the validated Satisfaction Survey for Inflatable Penile Implant (SSIPI). The survey consists of four subdomain scores representing the appearance, pain, satisfaction, and function of the penile implant-each scored on 1–5 Likert scale, with a higher score denoting a more positive response. Patients were also asked to report on their partner’s satisfaction with the IPP. Results Of the 87 eligible patients, 19 (21.8%) patients with a mean age of 67 years (range 50 years –79 years) completed the survey. Most respondents are Black (73.4%), have one monogamous partner (73.4%), and have female partners (78.9%). More than half of the patients use their IPP at least 1 to 3 times weekly (52.6%) and primarily for penetrative intercourse (68.4%) (Table 1). The median overall SSIPI satisfaction score is 3.75 (IQR 2.50 – 4.75) with a median pain subscale of 5.00 (IQR 5.00 – 5.00), suggesting no pain on IPP use, a median appearance subscale of 4.00 (IQR 3.50 – 4.83) and a median function subscale of 4.87 (IQR 4.00 – 5.00). Of the 17 patients who commented on their partner's satisfaction, the median perceived overall satisfaction is 5 (IQR 3.00 – 5.00) and the median perceived satisfaction with ease of use is 5 (IQR 4.00 – 5.00). Themes and representative quotes of patients reporting dissatisfaction are shown in Table 2. Among the 8 patients with female partners who are post-menopausal, only 1 reported that the partner is currently on hormone replacement therapy. Conclusions Most patients and partners are satisfied with their IPP. Among patients who are dissatisfied or no longer using their IPP, key complaints include concerns about appearance, lack of naturalness, difficulty with the pumping mechanism, and sexual inactivity. Perceived partner dissatisfaction is attributed to lack of spontaneity. A better understanding of patients and partners’ experiences may further inform ways to improve overall outcomes and shared satisfaction with IPP use. Disclosure No
Published in: The Journal of Sexual Medicine
Volume 22, Issue Supplement_4