Urine Leakage During Ejaculation
Climacturia is the term used to describe the leakage of urine during orgasm. This is fairly common after prostate surgery, but it might not even be noticed. The amount of urine varies widely anywhere from a few drops to more than an ounce. It may be more common in men who also have stress incontinence.
Urine is not dangerous to the sexual partner, though it may be a bother during sex. The leakage tends to get better over time, and condoms and constriction bands can help. If you or your partner is bothered by climacturia, talk to your doctor to learn what you can do about it.
What Can Men Expect From Ejaculation After Prostate Cancer Treatment
Many men want to know about ejaculation after prostate cancer treatment. Will it be the same after surgery or radiation? Will it eventually go back to normal? These are common concerns. Sex can be affected by prostate cancer treatment, and its important for men to know some of the side effects they may have.
Men may experience a decrease in seminal fluid, and some may even experience dry ejaculation. They may also have urine leakage during intercourse. It is important to note that ejaculation is not the same as orgasm, and that these need to be looked at as separate occurrences. Ejaculation is also not the same as fertility, and fertility concerns should be discussed before undergoing any therapy. The type of prostate cancer treatment chosen can have different results. There are other side effects from prostate cancer treatment, such as incontinence and impotence, some of which dissipate with time or can be managed by treatment with their doctor.
Dr. Bryan Wong goes over a few things men should be aware of if theyre concerned about ejaculation after prostate cancer treatment, such as the amount of ejaculate still able to be produced.
Video Transcript
Bryan Wong, MD: Men who undergo surgery for prostate cancer have removal of the prostate and the seminal vesicle organs which contribute to production of seminal fluid. Therefore, after surgery, men will notice that they have decreased ejaculate, experiencing what they call dry ejaculation.
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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When To See A Doctor
Consult with your doctor if you experience any of the symptoms discussed on this page particularly if they have been going on for a while. You will need a thorough work-up to determine the underlying cause, which may or may not be prostate cancer.
Its important to understand that other diseases or disorders can share these same symptoms. Benign prostatic hyperplasia , also called enlargement of the prostate, and are quite common. Men with these benign conditions can experience symptoms more often and more severely than men with prostate cancer.
Erectile dysfunction is relatively common, especially as one ages, and can also have causes unrelated to prostate cancer, such as smoking or cardiovascular disease. Experiencing a lower amount of fluid during ejaculation can be related to something as simple as diet or dehydration.
Its important to keep track of your symptoms, determining whats normal or abnormal for your own body. If you are worried about a particular symptom, or if its interfering with a relationship, you should discuss your concerns with your primary care physician.
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Talking About Sex And Prostate Cancer
You may find it difficult to talk about sex with your doctor or nurse. But it is important to have your questions answered and to get the help you need. Your doctor, specialist nurse or GP should make you feel comfortable during conversations about sex.
You may want to think about whether there is someone in your healthcare team you feel more comfortable talking to. We have more information about talking about sex with your healthcare team.
If you need more specialist advice your doctor or nurse can refer you to an erectile dysfunction clinic or a sex therapist.
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Your Thoughts And Feelings
Changes to your body and your sex life can have a big impact on you. You may feel worried, unsatisfied, angry and some men say they feel like they’ve lost a part of themselves. There are ways to tackle these issues and find solutions that work for you.
Getting support
If you are stressed or down about changes to your sex life, finding some support may improve how you feel. There are lots of different ways to get support.
You are not alone. A lot of men, with and without prostate cancer have sexual problems. Talking to other men who have had similar experiences can help.
- Our sexual support service is a chance for you, or your partner, to talk to one of our Specialist Nurses with an interest in helping with sexual problems.
- Our one-to-one support service is a chance to speak to someone who’s been there. They can share their experiences and listen to yours.
- Our online community is a place to deal with prostate cancer together. You can talk about whatever’s on your mind. Anyone can ask a question or share an experience.
- Our Specialist Nurses can answer questions and explain your treatment options. You can also email or chat online with our nurses.
- Get in touch with your local prostate cancer support group.
Trained counsellors
Counsellors are trained to listen and can help you find your own ways to deal with things. Many hospitals have counsellors or psychologists who specialise in helping people with cancer – ask your doctor or nurse if this is available.
What Are The Side Effects Of Prostate Cancer On Your Sex Life
If you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer or are worried about your risk, you may be wondering how it could affect your sex life.
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located below your bladder and wraps around part of your urethra. It is responsible for making fluid in semen, which helps transport your sperm when you ejaculate.
Prostate cancer rarely causes problems with sex, but the treatments for prostate cancer often affect penile function and reproduction.
Commonly used treatments such as prostate surgery, radiation, and hormone therapy remove or destroy cancer, can all result in sexual side effects. This can include erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, having an orgasm, sperm count/ quality, and fertility.
For many men, sexual dysfunction can result in performance anxiety and low self-esteem.
If you are feeling anxious or depressed, it is essential to communicate your feelings, thoughts and needs to your doctor and your partner. It may be embarrassing to talk about sex, but there are a variety of medications and procedures they can use to help you.
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Study 2 Sexual Activity And Prostate Cancer Risk In Men Diagnosed At A Younger Age
A case-control study at the British Association of Urological Surgeons Section of Oncology has collected information from over 800 individuals regarding their sexual activityparticularly how often they masturbated.
It was revealed that frequent masturbation activity is a factor that decreases the risk of prostate cancer in older men.
While the result is inconsistent with men in their 20s, the findings point to the different effects for older men. Somehow, frequent masturbation has a protective effect on the prostate gland, indicating the benefits of masturbation.
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 don’t 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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Cancer Treatments And Erectile Dysfunction
Following surgery, many men experience erectile dysfunction , but for many, the disruption is temporary. Nerves damaged during surgery may result in erectile dysfunction. A nerve-sparing prostatectomy may reduce the chances of nerve damage. Another factor is the surgeons skill level for performing the nerve-sparing technique, which if done correctly, may improve patients likelihood of retaining erectile function, says Dr. Shelfo.
Prostate cancer may also be treated with various types of radiation therapybrachytherapy, external beam radiation or stereotactic body radiation therapy. Each type of therapy causes somewhat different side effects. About half of all prostate cancer patients who undergo any of these types of radiation therapy are likely to develop erectile dysfunction, according to a 2016 article published in Advances in Radiation Oncology.
When you compare surgery with radiation, both may affect erections, says Dr. Shelfo. Surgery is usually more immediate, and sexual dysfunction has the potential with time to improve. With radiation, erections are usually less affected in the beginning, but over timemonths or, sometimes, yearssexual dysfunction may develop. Both treatments may affect sexual function, resulting in no ejaculate or the ability to attain erections.
Frequent Ejaculation May Reduce Prostate Cancer Risk: How Orgasm Protects Against Disease
During this years annual meeting of the American Urological Association in New Orleans, researchers affirmed what may be the first modifiable risk factor for prostate cancer: ejaculation.
A modifiable risk factor refers to the risks people can prevent through healthy habits, such as diet and exercise. Most of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, for example, are modifiable the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention reported healthy habits could prevent at least 200,000 of the deaths caused by heart attack and stroke. But for something like prostate cancer, the risks stem more from individual genes and family history.
A 2004 JAMA study was among the first to suggest a modifiable risk factor, finding high ejaculation frequency may be associated with lower risk for prostate cancer. The present research builds upon these findings with the high quality data collected from nearly 32,000 men participating in the Health Professionals Follow-up study the men were followed for a total of 18 years.
At the start of the study, men aged 20 to 29 and 40 to 49 were asked to calculate the average number of times they ejaculated per month, including the number of times they ejaculated during the previous year. Researchers then used both averages to compute a lifetime average.
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Changes To Orgasm And Ejaculation
After prostate cancer treatment you will still have feeling in your penis and you should still be able to have an orgasm, but this may feel different from before. Some men lose the ability to orgasm, especially if they’re on hormone therapy.
If you’ve had radical prostatectomy, you will no longer ejaculate when you orgasm. This is because the prostate and seminal vesicles, which make some of the fluid in semen, are both removed during the operation. Instead you may have a dry orgasm – where you feel the sensation of orgasm but don’t ejaculate. Occasionally, you might release a small amount of liquid from the tip of your penis during orgasm, which may be fluid from glands lining the urethra.
If you’ve had radiotherapy, brachytherapy, high intensity focused ultrasound or hormone therapy, you may produce less semen during and after treatment. With radiotherapy, brachytherapy and HIFU you may also notice a small amount of blood in the semen. This usually isn’t a problem but tell your doctor or nurse if this happens. Some men on hormone therapy say their orgasms feel less intense.
Some men leak urine when they orgasm, or feel pain. Others find they don’t last as long during sex and reach orgasm quite quickly.
Sex Life During And After Prostate Cancer Treatment
Sex after prostate cancer looms large in men’s minds, but it can be hard to bring it to attention. Shouldn’t you just be thrilled that you have a chance to beat cancer? Yet our sexuality is a very important part of our being.
Will your sex life be the same? No. There will be changes. But that doesn’t mean it will be worse. It could even be more pleasurable in time. It can help to break down how cancer affects a man’s sexuality into three main areas: desire, erectile dysfunction, and orgasm. Since we addressed orgasm up front, let’s check out the other two areas.
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How Masturbating Can Help Lower Your Prostate Cancer Risk By A Third
- 6:08 ET, Aug 3 2021
MEN who ejaculate at least 21 times a month can lower their prostate cancer risk by a third, doctors have found.
A study revealed that aside from boosting your mood and giving some much needed relief, masturbating or having sex can help ‘prevent cancer’.
Around one in eight men in the UK will get prostate cancer in their lifetime.
It’s the most common cancer in men and 47,500 men are diagnosed with it each year.
Recently, Luton Town legend Mick Harford revealed he was battling prostate cancer and that he would be having radiotherapy.
Friends star James Michael Tyler also revealed he has stage four prostate cancer and is paralysed from the waist down.
Cancer will strike anyone, but doctors think men who ejaculated more are less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Therefore ejaculating more often could actually help you look after your health.
The study was published in European Urology, with experts saying its worth taking note of the other benefits of frequent ejaculation.
The US scientists looked at data from 31,925 men who logged their monthly ejaculation.
They said: “We found that men reporting higher compared to lower ejaculatory frequency in adulthood were less likely to be subsequently diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Erection Restoration After Prostate Cancer Therapy
Whether youve had surgery, radiation or chemotherapy to treat prostate cancer, chances are, you have suffered some changes in sexual function. After a radical prostatectomy, men may have nerve and blood vessel alterations to their erections that make it more difficult to achieve and maintain erections. Additionally, because the prostate gland and seminal vesicles make the majority of semen fluid, men after prostatectomy will no longer ejaculate. They can still have the pleasurable sensation of orgasm, just no ejaculate fluid. Ejaculate fluid also greatly diminishes after radiation therapy. Erections tend to lessen after radiation as well although it is often a more gradual decline.
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How To Return To An Active Sex Life After Prostate Cancer Treatment
No matter the cancer, treatments often cause side effects that affect patients quality of life. But with prostate cancer, the potential side effects can be particularly concerning to men who are trying to decide which approach is right for them. Surgery, radiation therapy and other treatments may impact a patients sex life, causing challenges like low sex drive, loss of penis length, dry orgasm or low sperm counts. Despite the angst these issues may cause, experts say most of these side effects can be managed and many men have a good chance of returning to a full sex life after prostate cancer treatment.
Unfortunately, sexual dysfunction is a possibility for nearly all treatment options for prostate cancer, including surgery, says Scott Shelfo, MD, FACS, Medical Director of Urology at our hospital near Atlanta. The degree of dysfunction depends on many factors, including the patients overall health, co-existing medical problems, as well as the patients level of sexual function and ability before treatment.
How Can I Have Safe Sex During Treatment
Often, having safe and protected sex is fine during treatment but you should check with your provider. If you are not interested or feeling well enough to have sex, there are other ways to be intimate. Hugging, holding hands, and massages may feel good and be comforting. It is important to talk with your partner about how you are feeling and what you are comfortable with.
- If you had surgery on your pelvic area , you may need time to heal 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 , dont give oral sex.
- If your blood counts are low, you should not have sex. You are at risk for infection if your blood counts are low.
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