Can You Ejaculate After Prostate Cancer

Sexual Desire With Prostate Cancer

Desire plays an important part in the initiation of sex, as well as thought life even without sex. Yes, prostate cancer can affect desire in many ways. Some of these include:

• Worry about performance
• The psychological impact of a cancer diagnosis
• Self-image after prostate surgery
• Fear of recurrence, progression, and death
• Low testosterone levels due to treatment

Desire is more difficult to quantify than erection and less spoken of in general. Yet without this step, the others often go unaddressed as well. This is a good time for men to do something some men hesitate to do. Have a heart to heart with your partner and your healthcare provider.

What is getting in the way of your desire? Is it fatigue? What can be delegated to someone else to allow you more time to dream? Are the emotions of cancer filling that place in your mind? Consider a support groupand if you don’t feel like driving and sitting in a room with other men, there are some excellent online prostate cancer communities.

Perhaps seeing a counselor would help? I’ve heard it argued that every single person could benefit from talking with a therapist during cancer treatment. Self-image? Many men are relieved to hear that their partners are very interested in helping – but may feel uncomfortable initiating the conversation. If it feels physical, talk to your healthcare provider about coping. Approaches such as oxytocin treatments have helped some men, and other options are available.

Sex After Prostatectomy: How To Have A Healthy Sex Life After Surgery

Prostate health issues such as benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer affect hundreds of thousands of men in the United States every year.

If youve been diagnosed with a serious prostate issue, your healthcare provider may suggest a prostatectomy a surgical procedure in which your part or all of your prostate gland is surgically removed from your body.

Prostate removal surgery is usually highly effective at treating cancer and prostate enlargement , but it can potentially lead to complications.

These include some sexual performance issues, such as erectile dysfunction and difficulty ejaculating normally.

Although these effects can change your sexual experience, many men are still able to enjoy a fulfilling, satisfying sex life after prostate surgery by making certain lifestyle changes and using medication.

Below, weve talked about what to expect if youre scheduled to undergo a prostatectomy and want to maintain an active sex life after surgery.

Weve also explained how you can have a healthy sex life after a partial or complete prostate removal, whether through exercises to improve sexual functioning, medications, devices or a combination of different approaches.

Sexual Life After Prostate Removal

This post is for all the men who have prostate cancer or are worried about prostate cancer. One of the most feared side effects of therapy for prostate cancer is the impact on sexual health.

Hopefully this will give men a better idea of what to expect and take some of the fear of the unknown away.

The net effect of someone having his prostate removed is:

He will probably lose the ability to get a firm erection after surgery. I have had many patients who kept their erections with robotic surgery, but this is not the rule. With time he will hopefully get his erections back normally.

Factors that are responsible for the ability to get erections are:

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Causes Of Sexual Problems

While many men experience sexual issues following prostate cancer treatment, these issues are not often due to prostate cancer itself.

Most prostate cancer symptoms involve problems with expelling urine due to enlargement of the prostate gland. This enlargement begins to inhibit the urethra carrying urine out of the body. Urinary symptoms should not affect a persons sex life, however.

More active treatments for cancer, such as surgery, radiation therapy, or hormone therapy, may lead to sexual dysfunction.

Nerves that run close to the prostate gland control erections. Surgery that completely removes the prostate gland carries a risk of erectile dysfunction for this reason.

This type of surgery is usually only suitable for men with aggressive prostate cancer that is likely to grow or spread. Younger men with prostate cancer might also choose it, however.

In these surgical cases, a nerve-sparing prostatectomy aims to avoid damage to the erection-controlling nerves. Nevertheless, nerve-sparing operations are not always possible.

While reducing the risk of erectile dysfunction, this type of treatment may not deal with the cancer fully and may leave behind some cancerous tissue.

Surgery carries the greatest risk, but other treatment methods for prostate cancer can also affect sexual activity.

Treatment options with a risk of erectile dysfunction include:

Brachytherapy has a lower risk of erectile dysfunction than other types of radiation therapy.

Why Is Rehabilitation Important

Whether you are single, or in a relationship, you should have the opportunity to discuss penile rehabilitation with your doctor or specialist nurse. Self pleasuring is important for many people and this can play a part in rehabilitation. This might help to give you confidence and to become aware of the changes that your treatment might have caused.

Ideally, rehabilitation should start soon after your prostate cancer treatment, or in some situations before treatment. For example, you should start rehabilitation within 3 to 6 months of starting hormone therapy or radiotherapy. Or within the first 3 months of surgery to remove the prostate gland.

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Tips For Making Sex More Comfortable

• You have to talk to your partner. Tell them if you are too tired or uncomfortable for intercourse. Use I statements. For example, I love you and want to feel close to you. Id feel better if we cuddle tonight.
• Kissing, touching, cuddling, or massaging can be intimate and help us feel close to our partner.
• Ready to try having sex again? Set the mood- what sparked romance for you and your partner before cancer? Music, a romantic meal, or an evening out? Relax and donât pressure yourselves to have sex. Take your time, enjoy each other, and most of all, talk to each other.
• Cancer surgery may make some positions painful. Get creative. Try different positions to find what is best for you and your partner. For example, if being on top during penetration is painful, try lying on your sides.
• Your provider may refer you for pelvic floor physical therapy. This can help rehab the muscles in your pelvis and may make sex more comfortable after treatment.
• Changes to your appearance can be very hard to cope with. It is okay to set boundaries about where and when touching is ok, wearing clothing during sex, or covering up certain parts. What matters is that you feel comfortable in your own skin. It is also okay to say no or stop at any time. Talk with your partner before sex about how your body has changed and how this makes you feel.

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Sex After Prostate Cancer Radiation Treatment

A radiation oncologist is likely to administer radiation treatments. External beam radiation is a treatment delivered through a machine used to aim high-energy rays from outside the tumor into the tumor. Brachytherapy or seed implant treatment places small radioactive seeds within the prostate itself, giving the prostate gland localized radiation therapy. Forty percent of men report ED after radiation treatment.

A clinical study was conducted to determine if tadafil preserved erectile function in men treated with radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Among 221 participants it was observed that daily use of tadafil did not improve sexual activity. The findings did not support the use of Cialis to prevent ED. While men may not have positive results with Cialis, penile injections and erectile dysfunction pumps are usually successful treatments.

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How To Improve Your Sex Life After Prostatectomy

When this kind of erection treatment is not enough, patients opt for vacuum pumps or penile implants. Injections for erectile dysfunction after prostate surgery can also help.

Studies indicate that penile injection can be one of the efficient treatment options. Limited trials show that medications like papaverine, Bimix, and Trimix can improve sexual confidence and self-esteem. Including satisfaction and erectile function.

Physical therapy for ED can be another option. Targeted penile rehabilitation exercises can engage and strengthen the ischiocavernosus muscle.

This muscle is capable of maintaining penile rigidity. But, neither of these treatments is completely effective. And they can have side effects. Talk to a doctor to choose the best option.

Experts can also suggest lifestyle changes as a key component of every erectile dysfunction treatment. Its important to eat healthy after prostate removal and supply the body with the necessary nutrients.

Sticking to low-fat dairy, lean protein, and plant-based consumables can benefit the body in the long haul. Aphrodisiac foods like oysters, dark chocolate, and maca root powder can help.

What You Can Do Now

Sexual side effects from prostate cancer treatment are often temporary, especially if your doctor used nerve-sparing surgery. While your body recovers, you can try a few things to maintain your sex life:

• Let your doctor know about any sexual problems youre having right away. Although it can be hard to talk about sex, being open and honest will help you get the treatment you need.
• See a therapist. Couples therapy can help you and your partner understand and deal with sexual issues.
• Take care of yourself by exercising, eating a well-balanced diet, reducing stress, and getting enough sleep. Looking and feeling your best will give your self-esteem and mood a boost.

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Reducing Your Risk Of Prostate Cancer

Its not yet clear what causes prostate cancer, although we know age, family history, and being African American are factors. Of course, these are things you cant change, but there are simple lifestyle changes you can make to keep your prostate healthy :

• Eating a diet low in saturated fat with a focus on fish, lean protein, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains
• Engaging in regular physical activity
• Maintaining a healthy weight

In addition to adopting a healthy lifestyle, using medications called 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors have been shown to reduce prostate cancer risk, although this hasnt been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration .

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I Dont Have Erections After Surgery Am I Impotent For Life

Think of your erections as a well conditioned athlete, who has been injured. This injury is going to take time to heal. You should try to remain patient, and remember that this will be an ongoing battle for many months and even years. Rehabilitation of potency is much like a sports injury. Proper conditioning and medical treatment may potentially speed up recovery, but it is not guaranteed.

If you see any fullness in your erections in the months after your robotic prostatectomy surgery, this is a positive sign that some of the nerves are working or re-growing. You are taking the first steps down the potency recovery path. Remember though, as shown in the previous table for open prostatectomy, 25-55% of men do not regain erections.

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How Can A Prostatectomy Impact Your Quality Of Life

Prostatectomy is not life-threatening, but prostate removal significantly affects the quality of life, and it may cause problems like urinary symptoms, bladder issues, erectile dysfunction, and more. T

These issues may last for several months and even years, something patients should be ready for if they decide to have the surgery.

However, a lot depends on the patients age and the kind of surgery done. Studies show that about 60% of patients would make an almost complete recovery within 3 months with no long-term complications. By 12-months, almost 90% of patients can expect to feel much better and nearly normal.

Unfortunately, improvement is slow for some people, and they need 2-3 years to revive their sexual function and get rid of urinary issues. Regretfully, these issues may continue to haunt some for a while.

Here it is vital to understand that the above data is for radical proctectomy . The outlook is better after partial proctectomy.

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What Is Prostate Cancer

most common cancer in men in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

Prostate cancer occurs when cells in the gland divide uncontrollably. This leads to a lump, or tumor, that draws nutrients and blood away from other vital functions in the area.

Acinar adenocarcinomas, or slow-growing tumors, are the most common type of prostate cancer

Thousands of men die in the U.S. every year from prostate cancer, but the CDC highlights that most men who have prostate cancer are over 65 years of age and usually die from a

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What Are Possible Complications Of Surgery

Because a cystoprostatectomy is such a complicated procedure, things can go wrong. The chances of developing a complication in the first 90 days after surgery approaches 50%, Richstone says.

But a large number of those are mild or moderate and can be managed, he adds. Such complications might include:

• Urine blockages

You might get blood clots, but these can be prevented with compression stockings and blood-thinning medications.

Given that the nerves that are involved with erections are next to the prostate and bladder, men can lose some sexual function after having a cystoprostatectomy. Depending on how far the cancer has spread, experienced surgeons may be able to perform ânerve-sparingâ surgery to keep the ability to get an erection, Richstone says.

The risk of death is approximately 2% to 3%, Li says.

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Can I Have Sex During Treatment

There are a few factors that determine if sexual activity is safe during treatment.

• In general, sexual activity is fine during treatment as interest, energy, and comfort levels allow. While you may not feel up to sexual intimacy after surgeries or during chemotherapy and radiation hugging, kissing, holding hands, and massages may feel good and be comforting.
• If you had surgery involving the pelvic area , you may need to allow extra time for healing before having sex that involves penile stimulation or vaginal or rectal penetration . If you are being treated for oral cancer, use caution during oral sex.
• If you have mouth sores , you should not perform oral sex.
• Do not have vaginal intercourse if you have open sores on your genitals.
• If you received brachytherapy for prostate cancer , be sure to follow your oncology teamâs guidance about limiting close physical contact to avoid exposing your partner to radiation.

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Tips For Talking With Your Partner

Feeling less of a desire to have sex or having trouble getting an erection may affect your relationship. Try to be as open with your partner as you can. Here are some tips:

• Bring your partner with you to doctors visits. Being part of the conversation may help them understand what youre experiencing.
• Listen to your partners concerns, too. Remember that this issue affects both of you.
• See a therapist or a sex therapist to help you work out any issues that are affecting your sex life.
• If sex is a problem right now, its possible to fulfill each other sexually in other ways. Cuddling, kissing, and caressing can also be pleasurable.

Ask Your Doctor About Solutions

Patients should not be shy about discussing intimacy issues with their doctor. He or she may be able to prescribe medications to help. Certain medicationssuch as sildenafil , tadalafil or vardenafil are typically tried first. But these drugs may not help men achieve an erection if the nerves responsible are not healthy. In fact, the medications only work for a small percentage of men in the first few months after surgery, according to a 2017 study published in the International Journal of Sexual Health.

While regaining erectile function is not possible for all men treated for prostate cancer, it is important to remember that an erection is just one aspect of a satisfying sex life. Intimacy is another major component, one that may become more important as sexual relationships become more difficult after cancer treatment.

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How Long Does It Take For Nerves To Heal After Prostatectomy

How long does nerve regeneration take? Recovery of potency may be very rapid in younger patients and is sometimes immediate. However, for most patients the recovery is gradual and can take up to 3 years to plateau, although typically a patient sees a return to erectile function after about 12 months .

Will A Child Conceived After My Cancer Treatment Be Healthy

There is no evidence that children conceived after cancer treatment are at an increased risk for birth defects or other health problems. However, its important to use birth control during treatment to ensure you dont conceive with sperm that may have been damaged from exposure to chemotherapy or radiation. This damage might affect the health of the child. We also recommend that you use birth control for 1 year after completing chemotherapy and radiation therapy to ensure all damaged sperm have been cleared from your body.

Some cancers are hereditary, or passed down from parents to children. Ask your doctor or nurse if you have a hereditary cancer. If you do, you can meet with a genetics counselor to learn how this may affect the health of a child.

If you have a specific genetic mutation that can be passed on to a child, you may want to consider preimplantation genetic testing . PGT is a method of testing embryos that have been created by in vitro fertilization for the mutation you have. If you want, you can then choose only those embryos that dont have the genetic mutation when youre ready to attempt pregnancy.

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