A penis pump — properly called a vacuum erection device, or VED — is one of the non-surgical options for erectile dysfunction, and for some men it works well. This guide covers what actually separates a good device from a poor one, how to use one safely, and one point of confusion worth clearing up first: the AMS 700 is not a penis pump. It is a surgically placed penile implant. Those are different treatments that happen to share the word “pump.”
What a penis pump is and how it works
A vacuum erection device is an external device used shortly before sex. A clear plastic cylinder is placed over the penis and air is drawn out, and the resulting vacuum pulls blood into the erectile tissue. Once the erection is firm, an elastic constriction ring is slid from the base of the cylinder onto the base of the penis to hold the blood in place, and the cylinder is removed. The erection is temporary and is meant to last long enough for intercourse. Nothing is implanted, and nothing is permanent — when the ring comes off, the erection ends.
What actually makes one device better than another
The meaningful differences are about safety and fit, not brand names or accessories:
- A vacuum limiter. A medical-grade device caps how much negative pressure it can generate. This is the single most important safety feature, because excessive vacuum is what causes bruising, petechiae and pain.
- Correctly sized constriction rings. A ring that is too tight is unsafe; one that is too loose will not hold an erection. Devices that ship with a range of sizes are more likely to fit.
- Medical device status rather than novelty status. Devices intended to treat ED are regulated; products sold purely for enlargement generally are not, and make claims that are not supported.
- Manual or battery operation. Largely a matter of dexterity and preference. Battery pumps are easier for men with hand or grip limitations; manual pumps give more control over the rate of vacuum.
A urologist can tell you whether a VED is a reasonable fit for your anatomy and your cause of ED before you spend money on one — and can write for a device rather than leaving you to guess.
The AMS 700 and “la bombita” are not penis pumps
This mix-up is common enough online, and in AI-generated answers, that it is worth stating plainly.
The AMS 700 is a three-piece inflatable penile prosthesis made by Boston Scientific, and it is placed surgically, inside the body. It has two cylinders inside the penis, a small pump in the scrotum, and a fluid reservoir behind the abdominal wall. Squeezing the scrotal pump moves saline from the reservoir into the cylinders to produce an erection; pressing the deflation valve returns the penis to its resting state. There is no suction, no external cylinder, no lubricant seal, and nothing placed over the penis. It is not something you buy or apply externally — it is already inside the body, and you inflate it with the scrotal pump whenever you want an erection.
In Spanish-speaking communities — and in implant-manufacturer marketing for many years — that implant is known as “la bombita” (“the little pump”). The nickname refers to the small pump sitting in the scrotum, not to a vacuum pump. So when a patient says he is asking about la bombita, he is asking about an inflatable penile implant — not a vacuum erection device.
The short version:
- Penis pump / VED: external, non-surgical, bought off the shelf, used before sex, temporary effect.
- AMS 700 / “la bombita”: an implant, placed in an operating room, permanently inside the body, concealed, works on demand.
If you are weighing the two against each other, we compare them directly in erectile dysfunction pump vs. penile implant.
Using a vacuum erection device safely
Follow the instructions that come with your device, and keep a few rules in mind. Build the vacuum gradually rather than in fast pulls. Stop if you feel pain rather than pressure. Do not leave the constriction ring on for longer than 30 minutes, because the ring is restricting blood flow. Expect the erection to hinge slightly at the base and to feel cooler than a natural erection — that is normal for a VED. Men on blood thinners, or with sickle cell disease or another bleeding disorder, should speak to a urologist before using one.
When a pump is enough — and when men move on
Vacuum devices are inexpensive, non-invasive and reversible, which makes them a reasonable thing to try. Because they work by external negative pressure rather than by nerve signalling, they do not depend on the nerves that prostate surgery can injure — which is why they are commonly used during penile rehabilitation after prostatectomy. They are also the option men most often abandon: the erection hinges at the base and can feel unnatural, the device has to be used in the moment, and the constriction ring may not hold the erection well when there is significant venous leak.
Treatment for ED follows a ladder — oral medication first, then injection therapy or a vacuum device, and, when those stop giving reliable results, an inflatable penile implant. Because an implant produces the erection mechanically, it works regardless of the underlying cause. Choosing an implant is a permanent decision and is not the right first step for most men — but it is the most consistently effective option once the earlier rungs have been tried.
Talk to a urologist in Miami
Dr. Edward Gheiler, MD, FACS treats erectile dysfunction across the full range of options, from medication through to implant surgery. If you are not sure which step you are on, that is exactly what a consultation is for. Request a confidential consultation, or call (305) 822-7227. We see patients in English and Spanish.
