Prostate Cancer and its Impact on Sex Life




Usually prostate cancer doesn’t have an impact on sexual function. However, the treatment for prostate cancer may damage sexual function. Here’s what you need to know about the condition and how it affects your sex life:

Treatment that Impact Sex Life

Treatments for prostate cancer may have serious impact on sexual function. Hormone treatment, surgery (radical prostatectomy), and radiation are the most common treatment options for prostate cancer. In some cases, these are administered to a patient in combination.

Temporary erectile dysfunction (difficulty or inability to get an erection) is a common side effect of the treatment. This may improve over time. A skilled surgeon at urology center can spare the nerves adjacent to the prostate during surgery which reduces the chances for side effects.

Infertility

Since standard diagnosis age for prostate cancer is 66, most men may not be interested in becoming a father. However, if you wish to have children, it is important to know that prostate cancer treatments may lead to infertility.

Decrease in Desire for Sex

Decrease in libido is not uncommon after prostate cancer treatment. Some of the most common reasons include hormonal, psychological, and physical factors. Hormone treatment for prostate cancer tends to decrease testosterone levels which reduce desire for sex. Professional counseling, stress management, regular exercise, good sleep, a healthy diet, and erectile dysfunction treatment of can help resolve this problem.

No Erections after Treatment

Most men tend to face this issue. They have problem getting an erection after prostate cancer treatment. Referred to as erectile dysfunction, it is not uncommon to face this condition for men after a prostatectomy. However, this is not a permanent problem. It will improve over time.

In case, you had surgery or radiation many years ago, sexual function usually do not improve over time. Initially, doctors prescribe medications to increase flow of blood to the penis, resulting in erection. Other options include placing medicine into the urethra, injections into the penis, surgical implants, or vacuum pump devices.

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