Venous leakage refers to the inability to trap blood in the penis. Remember that arteries pump blood into the penis, and veins allow blood to flow out. If the veins don't properly constrict, the blood will flow out, and the man will lose his erection.
How does venous leak develop?
There are a number of causes for venous leakage. It can be linked to general vascular health, diabetes, Peyronie's Disease, and even injuries. It generally develops over time, as the underlying cause becomes more severe.
What is done to diagnose someone with venous leak?
The first diagnostic tool is simple observation... if you are able to achieve an erection, but lose it quickly, that is an indicator of venous leakage.
To confirm the diagnosis, a doctor might use a duplex ultrasound to observe the flow of blood in the penis.
Are there effective treatments, such as surgery?
If the leakage is mild, you can compensate for it using typical ED treatments such as Cialis or Viagra. Some men have good results with a constriction band, or "cock ring," which helps trap the blood in the penis.
In some cases surgery may be advised.
At what stage surgery is needed?
Vascular reconstruction surgery can, in some cases, repair venous leakage.
This is generally advised only when the ultrasound shows a clearly correctable condition, and particular if the patient is young and in good health. In these circumstance, the surgery may results in a complete cure of the condition.