Some experimentation is often needed at first to get the dose right. One of the possible side effects is that if too much of the drug is given the erection stays for too long and there is a danger of damaging the tissues. Some men who use these injections report that the head of the penis is not as hard as the shaft. Usually this method is recommended to be used once a week, which may not be enough for some men. The pellet melts into the area around, and, after some rubbing to distribute it into the nearby tissues, produces an erection.
Some men find that the pellet is initially uncomfortable.
Vacuum pumps can also be used to produce an erection. The pump is a simple device with a hollow tube that you put your penis into. The pump has a handle which sucks blood into the penis by creating a vacuum. The blood then gets caught in the penis by a rubber ring placed around the base. This ring then allows you to make love without losing the erection.