5 Penis Pump Side Effects (and how to avoid them)
Medical Grade Vacuum Erection Devices - or Penis Pumps - are a ‘non-invasive’ option for creating erections (as opposed to injections like Trimix, or tablets like Viagra).
Many men use vacuum devices for:
Maintaining an erection for intercourse with erectile dysfunction (ED): Read Penis pump reviews for the best ED specific pump
To create ‘permanent gains’ from pumping: We recommend our affiliate partner Mike from TotalMan for free video tutorials: how to get permanent gains from pumping
Rehabilitation after a procedure such as Prostate Surgery. Sign up for our free penile rehabilitation program here.
Overall, penis pumps are safe and effective.
But like any new piece of ‘exercise’ equipment, there can be side effects if you don’t have the correct instructions.
Here are FIVE potential side effects you could experience from any pump - includes Vacurect or Bathmate/ Hydromax Pump side effects.
1. Slight bruising, or a small blister.
If you pump blood into the penis too quickly, you might see some purplish bruising or blistering on the shaft, or pin-point-sized red dots on the surface of the skin (this is called ‘petechiae’).
The good news is this is not permanent, it is usually painless and will subside with time. If this happens to you, do not continue to use the pump until the bruising or blister has subsided. If you are concerned, please seek medical attention.
It is easy to avoid this happening - Go Slow.
When you are pumping, leave a few seconds/breaths in between each ‘pump’. The blood moves into the penis slower than the air leave the cylinder. Therefore, you need to make sure the full potential of blood coming into the penis is achieved by leaving a pause between pumps.
Remember, you are not pumping up an air mattress - this is an important part of your body - be mindful and take your time.
Enjoy taking a few deep belly breaths when you’ve done one ‘pump’.
If you have not had a full erection in some time then go even slower, think of it like getting back on a treadmill again after taking some time off.
Using a manual exercise to move blood into the penis in between pumping can also help recondition the penile tissue, and result in better erection quality.
Watch Mike from TotalMan’s video on 'Jelqing’ exercises in combination with pumping here.
2. Bruising around the base of the penis (when using a constriction ring).
If you are using a very tight constriction ring to hold blood in the penis and you use it regularly, you might see some bruising around the base of the penis over time.
Of course, this is tricky business, because when you’ve got erectile dysfunction, the chances are you need a tight ring to stop blood flowing back into the body.
Therefore, prevent this scenario by finding the best-sized ring for you - the Goldilocks effect - not too tight that it is uncomfortable, but not too loose that you go flaccid after a few minutes of wearing the ring.
IMPORTANT: ALWAYS remove constriction rings after 30 minutes. This allows oxygenated blood to flow through the penis again and prevents bruising.
That’s why you want to pick a constriction system that comes with different-sized rings and is designed specifically for ED.
We recommend the Vacurect pump, which comes with 10 ring sizes.
The Vacurect also circumvents the problem of losing engorgement in between getting the pump off, and ring on. This is an issue with most vacuum device systems.
The unique constriction ring technology also means that you can re-pump blood into the penis easily without starting the process all over again.
To understand how the Vacurect works:
These buttons will take you to our trusted affiliate partner websites: Mainspring Medical for USA, and Vacumed for Australia. When you purchase through these links, A Touchy Subject receives a small commission at no extra cost to you, this allows us to continue making free educational content - so thank you!
3. Testicle ‘suck-up’ (OUCH!)
If you purchased a ‘penis pump’ device (bought from a sex shop), rather than a medical-grade vacuum device designed for ED, then you might run the risk of the device ‘sucking in’ your testicles (read more about the differences between the two categories here).
This is because of the size of the cylinder opening. Most commercial pumps are sold for men to use after they are semi or fully erect. In this case, they want to use the device for exercise (‘permanent gains’) or adding a bit of size in the moment.
This is easily avoided simply by purchasing a device designed for your goals and needs.
If you have ED, you will likely be using a pump from flaccid, so make sure you purchase a device with a tapered opening designed for ED, we highly recommend the Vacurect medical-grade vacuum pump for this situation.
If you are looking for permanent gains from pumping, we highly recommend the information and products created by Mike from TotalMan.
4. Frustration because the erection won’t stay up
In my experience of talking to men about their sexual journey post-prostate-treatment, frustration is actually the most common ‘side effect’ for first-time pumpers.
This is only the case however if they weren’t given instructions on how a pump works, or if they purchased a penis pump that was not designed for ED.
Read the Touchy Subject Top 10 Tips for Mastering Pump Technique to avoid frustration (or throwing-the-thing-against-the-bathroom-floor-itus)
And remember - if you are not currently maintaining an erection through arousal then you will need to use a constriction ring system. You will not keep the erection you make in the cylinder around after you take the pump off unless you have a constriction ring on.
5. Not quite the erection you were expecting…
If you’re using a pump for Erectile Dysfunction, then you may be experiencing a different kind of erection with a constriction ring:
Blueish/purplish tinge to the penis, and ‘cooling’ sensation. This is completely normal and nothing to worry about. This is a result of both oxygenated and venous blood being drawn into the penis when pumping, plus the constriction ring moves blood to the surface of the shaft.
Very engorged, but not as stiff. You might want to try Penile Injections or PDE5 inhibitors such as Viagra/Cialis along with pumping to help improve stiffness. Otherwise, you can still enjoy an engorged but not stiff erection for intercourse, simply use a pleasure-based lubricant for ease of insertion and enjoy a slower motion.
Hangs down, rather than standing to attention. While many men would call their penis a ‘joystick’ - you might find it odd that your erection suddenly operates like the type used for a video game. The penile engorgement after pumping occurs within the shaft, but not at the base, as it would be in a natural erection. Therefore, you might find your penis rotates or pivots more than expected. This is called the ‘Hinge Effect’ (The Vacurect rings have a flat structure with a ‘jut out’ indent that overcomes this to some degree).
These side effects are completely normal and nothing to worry about. You will still be able to enjoy this erection, although prepare for it to be different in this way.
If you want an erection as close as possible to what you experienced naturally pre-surgery, you might prefer using a Penile Injection such as Trimix or Caverject (see our Penile Injection Guide here).
Last point: don’t pee with a ring on!
One of the men trialing our new Private Member’s Forum (join the waitlist here), shared a story about busting for a wee while wearing a tight Vacurect ring. Rather than take the ring off first, he tried to pee through the ring…:
“While having sex, I found myself having to pee really bad, as I had overhydrated prior. I excused myself, and headed quickly to the washroom. I thought I might be able to pee with the ring on. I relaxed and felt my bladder starting to let go and then, a burning sensation and I realized, nothing is going to come out. I started to panic a bit and immediately started squeezing my shaft so I could get the ring off. Of course, by this time, my system was now pressurized. I’m squeezing, dancing around and desperately trying to get the ring off as things were starting to hurt. I finally got the ring off and immediately, the pressure was released and red-tinged pee started spraying everywhere, over the floor, the sink, and the mirror. I stopped the stream and turned to the toilet to finish, and bright red blood started to come out first then urine. I was so worried that something had torn or burst inside somewhere. Fortunately, I must have only burst a small blood vessel as later when I had to pee again, there was only a slight tinge of red. I started drinking lots of water and by morning, everything was back to normal. It’s been over a week now and things are fine.”
These buttons will take you to our trusted affiliate partner websites: Mainspring Medical for USA, and Vacumed for Australia. When you purchase through these links, A Touchy Subject receives a small commission at no extra cost to you, this allows us to continue making free educational content - so thank you!
PLEASE NOTE:
Most men can safely use a vacuum device without any side effects - other than a very happy smile. But be aware there are some potential risks for certain men. For example:
An increased risk of bleeding with blood-thinning medications such as Warfarin and Clopidogrel.
If you have sickle cell anemia or another blood disorder then you are more susceptible to blood clots or bleeding.
Please tell your doctor about all of your health conditions and any medications you take, including herbal supplements, before deciding on whether a vacuum device (or any other ED treatment) is right for you.