Common Short Term Side Effects

In the short term, it is common for users to develop temporary swelling or squishy erections. Small hematomas may form during usage of the penis pump. A hematoma is commonly known as a bruise. It is created when the tissues of the body are put under strain or pressure. Blood rises to the surface of the skin and takes on a purplish hue. For most people, the hematoma will leave on its own within a few days. If any of these symptoms last for more than a few weeks, the individual should consult a doctor. For short term use, these three side effects are quite common.

The extent of the damage depends on the location of the hematoma. The head of the penis is more sensitive, so small blood vessels are more likely to burst. On the shaft, the skin is thicker and less prone to bruising. If a bruise develops in this location, it is a sign that the user is applying too much vacuum pressure.

Common Injuries

Around the penile glands, the skin is notably delicate. During pumping, it can suffer injuries like bruises or blisters. Like a normal blister, fluid will develop in a bubble under the skin. The biggest issue with a blister is that it can be extremely painful when friction is added. Sexual intercourse or continued pumping can heighten the pain and potentially pop the blister.

While penis pumps are known for swelling the penis with blood, they will also draw lymphatic fluid into the penis. This liquid looks like the same water-like substance that is found within a blister. In the normal human body, it is a component of the immune system. When it is present in the penile head, it produces swelling that looks like the donut. Nicknamed “the donut effect”, this side effect makes the skin puff out around the head. Although this is mostly a harmless swelling, it can be a precursor to other problems.

If the lymphatic fluid is not massaged away, it can end up accumulating in the penile shaft. Over time, this can become severe. It can make the penis feel sponge-like when erect and can cause problems with the urethra. If the lymphatic fluid builds up enough, it can place pressure on the urethra and cause it to clamp shut. This makes it difficult for men to urinate and can cause urine to exit the body in a spray.

Luckily, lymphatic fluid builds up slowly and is reversible. If symptoms of a lymphatic fluid buildup are present, men can abstain from using their penis pump and wait a couple of weeks for the symptoms to go away. After a few weeks have passed, they should not have any more problems.

Other typical common injuries include temporary numbness. For a short period of time after the pump is used, the individual may feel pain. The penis pump can also cause bruising in the pelvic area where the pump meets the penis.

Lowered Erection Frequency and Quality

Lymphatic fluid is not the only thing that can effect an erection. Penis pumps can also cut off the flow of new oxygenated blood to tissues within the penis. Overtime, this can cause progressive nerve and vascular damage. The continued damage to the nerves and vascular tissue can lower the quality of an erection.

Likewise, penis pumps are known for their ability to lower the sensitivity of the penis. In the short term, men may view this as a positive side effect since it delays ejaculation. Over a longer period of time, it could be the sign of nerve damage. Long term penis pump users have reported problems with maintaining a rigid erection. The ongoing nerve and tissue damage can also make erections less frequent and more difficult to achieve.

Serious Side Effects

For most of the injuries above, the duration of side effects is temporary. There are a few symptoms that can be serious and difficult to cure. Penis pump users may notice deterioration in their erectile function or damage to major blood vessels.

Blood vessel damage can be serious and potentially life threatening. On airlines, a similar condition known as deep vein thrombosis can occur and cause fatalities. With the penis, a blood vessel is damaged and can block blood from circulating. If it remains in the same location, it can cause swelling or discoloration. When the damaged blood vessel and clot breaks away, it becomes an embolus. This clot can block the blood from circulating and cause the surrounding tissue to die off. It can also lead to a heart attack.

With a penis pump, a blood vessel can be damaged due to the enormous amounts of pressure placed on the penis. If the pressure occurs too quickly or if it is too extreme, the blood vessel can rupture. Even if it does not cause a serious injury, it will cause the individual to feel a great deal of pain, bruising and swelling.

The cavernous artery is the blood vein that supplies the erectile chambers. This artery is basically what causes an erection. If a rupture occurs in the cavernous artery, it can cause a medical condition known as non-ischemic priapism. Basically, blood escapes through the ruptured artery. It then pools within the erectile chambers and makes it impossible for the individual to have a full erection. Once this condition has occurred, it can take months for the non-ischemic priapism to completely heal. In some cases, the arterial wall may never fully recover.

When a rupture occurs in another blood vein, it can still cause significant problems. It may disrupt the delicate balance of blood circulating through the penis. This can also make it difficult for someone to have ideal erections.

For the man involved, the worst case scenario may be a penile fracture. The penis contains a sheath of tissue known as a tunica albuginea wrapped around the erectile chambers. If it is put under too much pressure, the tissue will rip and the individual has a penile fracture. This condition can be terrifying since the tunica albuginea is vital for the penis to function properly. It is basically like a bike tire. If the tire is ripped, it will not become hard enough to work properly.

When a penile fracture is serious, it may require surgery to heal completely. If surgery is not started, the penis can be massively distorted and take on a different appearance. It may be more difficult to have an erection and function poorly. Most likely, the penile fracture will cause significant amounts of pain. With surgery, the tissue can be fixed. The patient will not be able to have sexual intercourse for several months and may have a permanently shorter penis. Erections may also be asymmetrical.

Serious side effects may include impotence caused by nerve damage. In addition, nerve damage can also make the penis feel numb and insensitive to normally pleasurable feelings. In some cases, it may also result in pain during intercourse.

Long Term Side Effects

Many of the serious side effects listed can last for a long time period. Tissue or nerve damage can be ongoing problems for months or years. In addition to these serious side effects, penis pump users may deal with some long term cosmetic problems.

One of the main cosmetic changes with the penis is skin discoloration. During a pumping session, users should keep an eye on what they are doing. If they notice that the skin is darkening, the penis pump should be removed and the penis should be given a rest. Long term skin discoloration is caused by cyanosis. This is basically when the tissues within the penis are slowly starved of oxygen. When a penis pump is used, blood is trapped within the organ. Since this blood remains within the penis, fresh oxygenated blood cannot reach the tissue. The trapped blood will slowly deoxygenate. As it does this, it will lose the vibrant red color and become dark blue. This causes the penis to take on a blue hue. Since deoxygenated blood can result in tissue and nerve damage, users should be careful about how long they use their pump. With extended use, penis pumps may also cause stretch marks to appear that do not go away.

Preventing Injuries and Side Effects

Although injuries can occur, users can take preventative measures. Like any medical advice, individuals should carefully read the instructions that come with their penis pump. These instructions should be followed in detail and the penis pump should not be used more often than is recommended.

A Special Note About Hydro Pumps

Because water is not as compressible as air, means the vacuum pressure within a hydro penis pump can reach damaging ranges more quickly. Couple this with the tissue-relaxing nature of warm water, and you have the potential for aggressive expansion. While this is a benefit to using a hydro pump, it also can be a downfall, and extra precaution should be exercised while pumping. Damaging pressures can be disguised by the comforting effect of warm water. This is a recipe for over-pumping, which may result in too much expansion too quickly and the rupturing of hundreds of tiny capillaries, or worse, the fracturing of the corpus cavernosum chambers.

How Can a Hydro Pump be Used More Safely?

When someone begins hydro-pumping, especially with a bathmate, they should make sure to take it slow and not pump too hard, allowing the warm water to relax the penis first, and only increasing pressure as the pump feels like it is going to lose suction. Adding in breaks where you return to last marked pressure after dropping it by half temporarily can draw fresh blood and oxygen into the penis. This may help reduce tissue damage, blood clots and bruising. Limiting time to 15 minutes max, and allowing a break in period are important. You will find it easier to increase pressure as each month of use passes.

NOTE: One of the worst signs is a change in penile color. A purple color indicates that the penis is starved of oxygen and cells or beginning to die. At this point, users should stop using a penis pump until the discoloration is gone and they have talked to a medical professional.

You can better prevent scenarios like this by monitoring the color of your penis as you are pumping. Should you see purple coloring in the glans or shaft (hypoxic blood), you should drop pressure and pump back up to introduce fresh oxygen carrying blood into the penis. Do this as many consecutive times as needed till the purple goes away. If it doesn’t, then you should call it quits for the day as your penis has likely had enough.

Just like any enlargement method, pumping can be overused and abused. It is however one of the only non-pharmaceutical methods that can produce an immediately bigger penis after use, which is why many men choose to continue using it, despite the risks detailed above.

Should Pumps Be Avoided Entirely?

If you have read the entirety of this page, there is a good chance you have concluded that pumps in general are dangerous and should be avoided. While the goal of this article was to educate you on all the possible injuries associated with pump use, it was not meant to get you to swear them off forever.

Many studies have been done proving the efficacy of pumps in rehabilitating the penis. These studies show measurable improvement in an important factor in penile health: oxygen saturation. it is believed that poor oxygen saturation may lead to erectile dysfunction and a decrease in penis size over time.

Among the increasing amount of studies done on pumps, one documented a 55% increase in oxygen saturation in men that used a penis pump for only 2 minutes. They were instructed to “cycle” their pumps by achieving 10 consecutive erections over the course of 2 minutes.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24506138

Studies like this point out the possible role pumps can play in the preservation of a mans penis size and health as he ages. By using a pump for as little as 2 minutes you could be thwarting erectile dysfunction by maintaining healthy levels of oxygen saturation. But, with the limited amount of resources available on how to effectively use pumps as preservation or rehabilitation devices, and the overwhelming amount of forums dedicated to the possible abuse of them through enlargement, it can be a tough road for men to navigate.