Men regard the erectile dysfunction as one of the most dangerous conditions, and for a good reason, many relationships, including the one with the woman they love, being ruined by it.

Still, a new study published in the British Journal of Urology showed that the penile implants are a viable solution for this problem.

Researchers at the Institute of Urology in London studied 447 men who had received 504 implants over a 25-year period and concluded that nine out of ten men fitted with a penile prosthesis were able to have sexual intercourse and eight out of ten were satisfied with the overall results.

"Not all men are able to take medication to help them overcome erection problems. Implanting a penile prosthesis remains an effective treatment, particularly for patients with medical conditions that cause irreversible erectile dysfunction," explains lead author Andrea Minervini.

The most common reasons for implants were diabetes (27 per cent) and vascular disease (26 per cent). Other reasons included radical pelvic surgery and spinal cord injuries.

Generally, most patients were satisfied with the results, the only complaints being related to the removal of the prosthetic following an infection or a mechanic failure.

There are two types of implants, one consists in flexible rod which can be manipulated to achieve erection, and the other is composed from a series of housings in which the user pumps liquid.