Penis Pump Not Working for Sex? Causes, Fixes and What to Try Next

A pump that isn't working the way you hoped can be discouraging, especially when you're not sure whether the problem is the device or your body. If your penis pump isn't giving you an erection firm enough for intercourse, check how you're using it before you decide the pump doesn't work. A penis pump is also called a vacuum erection device, or VED. When men are taught how to use a pump properly, about 80% get an erection firm enough for intercourse. At RX Sleeve, we've helped men with erectile dysfunction for more than 20 years.

When a pump seems to fall short, the reason is often one of these problems, and each one has a fix you can check:

• Air leaking in at the seal: trim the hair at the base of your penis and put lubricant on the rim of the cylinder.
• A cylinder that doesn't fit you: your whole penis should fit inside the tube, with room left to fill out.
• Pumping too fast: use slow, steady strokes.
• Trouble with the ring: try a different tightness, and move the ring onto your penis before you release the vacuum.
• A pump erection that looks and feels different from a natural one: some bending at the base and a cool, slightly purple look are normal.

A pump takes some practice to use well, so it's worth checking each of these causes before you decide the pump has failed. If you've fixed all of them and the erection still isn't firm enough, the cause may be your body. At that point, it's time to see your urologist.

Why Does My Penis Pump Feel Like There Is No Vacuum?

When a pump doesn't seem to pull a vacuum, the pump itself is often fine. A common reason is air getting in around the opening of the cylinder, the tube that fits over your penis. Go through these checks before you replace anything:

• Trim the hair at the base. Hair at the base of your penis keeps the cylinder from sealing against your skin. Men who use pumps suggest trimming or shaving it to help the pump hold suction.
• Use lubricant on the rim. Put a water-soluble lubricant on your penis and around the opening of the tube. A dry rim lets air leak in.
• Check the seal. If your pump has a rubber seal or insert at the opening, make sure it sits flat and isn't torn or cracked.
• Hold the cylinder firmly against your body. Pressing the cylinder against your belly helps it make a seal. Take care that the skin of your scrotum doesn't get pulled into the opening and pinched.
• Make sure the cylinder fits. Your whole penis should fit inside the tube, with room left for it to fill out. If the cylinder feels too tight or too loose, ask the manufacturer or your doctor about a different size.
• Pump slowly. Slow, steady strokes give your penis time to fill. Most men are fully erect after 2 to 3 minutes, though it can take anywhere from 30 seconds to 7 minutes. Stop pumping once your penis is full and firm inside the tube. Stop right away if it hurts.

If you've gone through every one of these checks and the pump still won't hold a vacuum, the pump may be faulty. Contact the company that made it.

Why Is My Pump Erection Not Hard Enough for Sex?

An erection from a penis pump is different from a natural erection. Some of what feels like failure is normal. Once the ring is on, your penis is firm from the ring to the tip. The part behind the ring stays soft. That's because the erection tissue starts inside your body, behind the pubic bone, where the tube can't reach, so the vacuum can't fill that part with blood. Because that part stays soft, a pump erection can pivot or wobble at the base instead of standing straight up. Doctors call this the hinge effect. It's a known downside of using a pump, so a wobble at the base doesn't mean yours is broken.

Your penis will also look and feel different. It may turn slightly purple and feel cold to the touch. It feels cool because blood isn't flowing in and out while the ring is on.

A wobble at the base and a cool, slightly purple color mean the pump is doing its job. A working pump gives you a penis that is full and firm from the ring to the tip, even if it bends at the base.

How to Tell If the Problem Is the Vacuum, the Ring, or Your Body

The point where your pump erection goes soft tells you whether the problem is the vacuum, the ring, or your body:

• Soft inside the tube, with weak suction. The vacuum is the problem. Check the hair at the base, the lubricant, the seal and the cylinder fit again.
• Firm in the tube, but soft once the ring goes on. The ring is the problem. It may be too loose, or the erection may be fading while you move it.
• Steady suction and a full tube, but still too soft for intercourse. The pump and your technique are probably working. When the tube fills and holds but the erection is still too soft, the cause is more likely blood flow or nerve function, which a urologist can check.

A pump can only draw blood into the penis. How firm your erection gets also depends on your body. If the seal holds, the tube fills, and the result still isn't firm enough, make an appointment with your urologist. Your urologist can check what's causing the problem and talk with you about other treatments.

What If the Ring Hurts, Slips, or I Lose the Erection Putting It On?

The ring, also called a constriction band, keeps the blood in your penis after you release the vacuum. Your erection starts to fade as soon as the vacuum is released, so the ring has to be on your penis before you let the vacuum go. Put the ring on in this order:

1. Stretch the ring over the open end of the cylinder, the end that goes against your body, before you start pumping.
2. Pump until your penis is full.
3. While the vacuum is still holding, slide the ring off the cylinder and onto the base of your penis.
4. Then release the vacuum and take off the cylinder.

Most problems with the ring have to do with how tight it is, when you move it onto your penis, or how long you leave it on.

• The ring is too tight or painful. Try a looser ring. It's normal to try a few rings of different tightness before you find one that holds the erection without hurting.
• The ring slips off. A ring that slides off is too loose for you, so try the next tighter size.
• The erection fades while you move the ring. Keep the vacuum on until the ring is in place on the base of your penis. A little lubricant on the ring helps it slide.
• The ring has been on for 30 minutes. Take it off. Leaving the ring on longer than 30 minutes can seriously bruise or damage your penis.
• You can't ejaculate with the ring on. The ring presses on the tube that carries semen, so semen can be blocked until the ring comes off. This is a known side effect of using a pump. If it bothers you or causes pain, bring it up with your doctor.

How Long Should I Keep Trying a Penis Pump?

Give a pump time and regular practice before you decide it doesn't work for you. Using a pump is a skill, and the first few tries are often awkward. A good way to start is to practice for about 10 minutes a few times a week. Getting the technique right can take a few tries, and the American Cancer Society says it can take some practice before you're comfortable using a pump.

If you had surgery to remove your prostate, called a radical prostatectomy, it can take longer. The nerves that control erections can take from a few months to 2 or more years to recover. If you had radiation for prostate cancer, erection problems usually develop slowly over time instead of right away. A vacuum device is one of the treatments doctors use to help men get erections after prostate cancer treatment. Ask your urologist when you can start using a pump after surgery or radiation, and how often to use it.

When Should I Stop and See a Doctor?

Some mild side effects are expected when you use a pump. Small red pinpoint spots on the skin and minor bruising are common. Other signs mean you should stop using the pump and call your doctor:

• Pain during or after using the pump
• Serious bruising or blood blisters
• Less feeling in your penis than you had before
• Pain or bruising after leaving the ring on longer than 30 minutes

See your doctor as well if the pump holds steady suction and the tube fills, but the erection still isn't firm enough for intercourse after you've practiced with it. When the pump is working and the erection is still too soft, the cause is more likely in your body, and a doctor can look into it.

Some health conditions make using a pump riskier. If any of these apply to you and you haven't talked them over with your doctor, do that before you use the pump again:

• You take blood-thinning medication.
• You have a bleeding disorder or sickle cell disease.
• You have a condition that raises your risk of priapism, which is an erection that won't go away.

Serious injuries from pumps are rare, but they do happen. Reported problems include damage to the skin and a testicle getting trapped under the ring.

What If a Penis Pump Just Doesn't Work for Me?

If you've worked through the fixes and the pump still doesn't give you a firm enough erection, you still have good options. Some of them can be used along with the pump. Pumps don't suit every man. Some men find them awkward to use and don't like the loss of spontaneity. Many of these men move on to other options. Our guide to penis pump alternatives covers more of these options. Our penis sleeve vs. penis pump comparison explains how the two devices differ.

Medication can also work alongside a pump. Common ED pills such as sildenafil and tadalafil belong to a drug class called PDE5 inhibitors. One review found that men got better erections using a PDE5 inhibitor together with a pump than using a PDE5 inhibitor alone. Your urologist can tell you whether combining the two is right for you. For more on the medical options, see our overview of ED medication alternatives.

At RX Sleeve, we help men with erectile dysfunction keep intimacy in their relationships. A pump and a penis sleeve can be used together. Our founder, Dan Tomlinson, has said, "Our RX Sleeve product can be used with any other solution out there." Use your pump the way you normally do. If the erection is firm enough, you don't need anything else. If it's only partly firm, you can wear a sleeve made of our soft material over it. If the pump gives you little or no erection that day, you can wear a firm sleeve on its own.

If you use your pump's constriction ring, the 30-minute limit on the ring still applies whether or not you wear a sleeve over it.

Our soft and firm materials are made for different situations. We suggest the soft material if you can keep at least some erection. The soft material is soft all the way through. It compresses like the head of a natural erection, and it stretches a good deal at the opening. With the firm material, the firmness comes from the sleeve itself. A firm sleeve has a soft head. The rest of the sleeve stays rigid even if you can't get an erection or you lose it partway through. That's why a firm sleeve can still work when the pump doesn't. Every sleeve comes with a harness called The Grip™, which holds the sleeve securely in place during intimacy.

Every RX Sleeve is made from certified skin-safe silicone that meets medical-grade* standards. RX Sleeve is also an FDA-listed Class II External Penile Rigidity Device. A sleeve doesn't treat erectile dysfunction. It helps you keep intimacy in your relationship while you and your doctor work on treating the erectile dysfunction itself.

Penis Pump FAQs

Can you use a penis pump and a penis sleeve together?

Yes. A pump and a sleeve do different jobs. A pump is a medical treatment for erectile dysfunction. A sleeve isn't a treatment. It's there to help with intimacy. Wearing a sleeve doesn't mean giving up your pump or anything else your urologist has asked you to do. Our guide on how to use a penis sleeve explains how to put one on and wear it.

Do cheap penis pumps work?

A cheap pump can create a vacuum, but it may not have the safety features of a vacuum erection device made for medical use. Pumps that are FDA-cleared have a pressure-release valve that limits how strong the vacuum gets, which helps prevent injury. Some pumps sold online aren't FDA-cleared and may not have this valve. If you aren't sure whether your pump has one, check its instructions or ask the company that made it. If you can't confirm that it has one, ask your doctor about switching to a pump made for medical use.

Does a penis pump work after prostate surgery?

For many men, yes. Among men who use a pump after a radical prostatectomy, the surgery that removes the prostate, about 80% are able to have intercourse. Among men who use a pump more generally, more than 80% are satisfied with the results. Whether your own erections come back depends partly on the two nerves that run alongside the prostate. Surgeons try to protect these nerves by using a nerve-sparing approach during the operation. According to the American Cancer Society, men who keep both nerves can have normal erections again. Men who lose one nerve have lower odds. Men who lose both can't have erections on their own. If you want a way to have intercourse with your partner while your erections recover, our guide to the best penis sleeve after prostate surgery may help.

Getting Help From RX Sleeve

If your pump isn't working the way you hoped, a sleeve may help you and your partner keep intimacy in your relationship while you live with erectile dysfunction. You can look through our penis sleeves, including the firm material option. If you'd like help choosing the one that fits your situation, contact us and we'll help you decide.

*In compliance with: In Vitro EpiDerm™ OECD TG 439 & EpiVaginal™ In Vitro Toxicity