Vascular Reconstructive Surgery for ED

Medically Reviewed by Nazia Q Bandukwala, DO on September 09, 2023
1 min read

Vascular reconstructive surgery is one way to improve blood flow to the penis to help a man with erectile dysfunction (ED) get and keep an erection. 

It is not recommended by the American Urological Association, though, since it's technically difficult, costly, and doesn’t always work.

The goal of the operation is to bypass blocked arteries that cause erection problems.

A surgeon transfers an artery from a muscle in the belly to one in the penis. This creates a path for blood to move around the problem area.

It may be a good option for only a few men, usually those who are younger and have ED because of an injury to the penis and the area around it. If that's you, talk to your doctor to see if this surgery is right for you.

Unfortunately, vascular reconstructive surgery doesn’t seem to work very well over time. Even the best studies show that only 1 out of 20 men improved after the treatment. The success rate is higher for younger men with a single damaged blood vessel from a pelvic or genital injury.