Sex After Prostate Cancer

Treatment for prostate cancer can involve surgical intervention as drastic as the entire prostate gland. Since the prostate gland is one of the organs of the male reproductive system, naturally enough, this will have an impact on your sex life. However, there’s no need to despair – modern medical techniques together with an open and informed approach should ensure your sex life should recover as well as your health.

First off, remember that any cancer treatment can be tiring. Fatigue is a common side effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. That may bring with it a low libido or simply the feeling that you are too tired for sex. Ensure your partner knows this side effect could occur – it’s nothing personal!

A cancer diagnosis is difficult to deal with and many cancer patients find themselves suffering from depression – again with a knock-on effect on their libido. Some patients state they have suffered from feeling that they are sexually unattractive or in some way damaged – that’s particularly possible with prostate cancer since it affects the reproductive system. Counseling or other treatment can help – physicians should be aware that there is a need to look after their patients’ mental as well as physical health, but if not, raise the issue yourself. No one should have to fight cancer while suffering from depression.

Partners of prostate cancer patients may find that the best way to provide support is to give plenty of gentle physical contact, while not making demands. For instance, a gentle hug or a massage can be a way to share concern and love. If this physical contact doesn’t come with an implied demand for penetrative sex – or even for any reciprocal activity – then it can provide a real assurance of love and leaves the door open for resumption of full sexual relations at a later date.

These are emotional issues, but there can also be some physical issues with prostate cancer. Radical prostatectomy, full removal of the gland, can lead to erectile dysfunction, since sometimes the nerve which controls erections is removed or damaged as part of the operation. However, modern surgical techniques are far more accurate than used to be the case twenty years ago, particularly when robotic surgery is used. Generally, the nerve can now be saved.

However the removal of the gland leads to dry orgasms, since ejaculate is no longer being produced by the gland. Some men, and their partners, find this difficult to deal with. Equally, some men have noted that sexual arousal and in particular orgasm can lead to minor urine leakage. If this is the case it may be useful to empty the bladder before sexual activity.

Kegel exercises can help men strengthen their pelvic muscles, which will help them correct any incontinence that may arise as a result of prostate surgery and will also help strengthen erections. In kegel exercises, the muscles of the pelvic floor are contracted and then relaxed.

Men who experience erectile dysfunction immediately after prostate surgery should, first of all, remember that this may be temporary, and that full function can return after several months. For those who continue to experience problems, there are a number of possible treatments including the use of Viagra or Cialis, injections, or in long-term cases, penile implants. The use of injections in particular can be helpful in the early months after the operation, while it is likely that function will return gradually within 12-24 months.

The large majority of men can resume full sex lives after prostate surgery. And remember the adage, ‘Use it or lose it’ – medics will tell you that one of the best ways to resume full erectile function is to continue to engage in sexual activity!

Related Articles

• Treatment of Prostate Cancer
• Talk to Your Doctor About Prostate Cancer Treatment Options
• Types of Treatment
• Treatments for Prostate Cancer
• Prostate Cancer Treatment Options
• Prostatectomy
• What Does Treatment For Prostate Cancer Entail And Does It Affect A Male’s Ability To Have Sex?

One Response to “Sex After Prostate Cancer”

Comment from maria
Time October 22, 2010 at 8:21 pm

my partner has just been told he has prostate cancer. it is a level 1
we have been trying to have a baby he is 61 and i am 29. he goes in for it to be removed next wednesday. my partner and i have a great sex life. can we still have a baby naturally?