Read Real Stories Of Men Who Underwent Treatment Of Enlarged Prostate At New York Urology Specialists
We offer treatment for prostate problems, including slow urine stream, frequent urination at night, difficulty emptying the bladder, and other problems to patients within driving distance to our offices as well as from other states and countries. Our patients come from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and over 70 countries worldwide.
Effects On Orgasm And Ejaculation
A number of factors involved with prostate cancer may change how a man feels about sex. Understanding the risks may help people deal with these consequences.
Removing a prostate gland entirely for cancer treatment means that ejaculation will no longer be possible. Instead, the man may have a dry orgasm.
Some surgical treatments may lead to a disorder called retrograde ejaculation. With this condition, the semen does not leave the body during orgasm. Instead, it goes into the bladder and leaves through urination.
Other prostate cancer treatments may result in smaller ejaculations. Hormone therapy may also reduce the intensity of orgasm sensations.
How Long Does The Recovery Period For Turp Last
The initial recovery period lasts approximately one week, and includes some pain and discomfort from the urinary catheter. Spastic convulsions of the bladder and prostate are expected as they respond to the surgical changes. The following medications are commonly prescribed after TURP: B& O suppository .
Recommended Reading: Prostate Cancer Perineural Invasion
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.
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.
Read Also: How To Shrink Prostate Mayo Clinic Naturally
The Three Parts Of Male Orgasm
Kacker starts by pointing out a common misconception that erections are necessary for male orgasm. They arent. Men can have experience orgasm without an erection. The converse is also true, of course: men can have an erection without having an orgasm.
When discussing orgasm and radical prostatectomy, its useful to think of the male orgasm as having three separate parts, says Dr. Kacker.
First, secretions from the testicles, the prostate, and the seminal vesiclessmall, slender glands near the prostateflow into the urethra, the tube-like structure that carries semen through the penis and out the body. The emission of those fluids creates a feeling of fullness and a sensation of inevitability.
Second, theres ejaculation, which is accompanied by contractions of the pelvic floor muscles, the group of muscles used to hold in intestinal gas and urine.
And third is the mental componentall of the processing the brain does of incoming sensory signals from penis and pelvis that contribute to the mental experience of build up and release.
How Prostate Surgery Affects Fertility
Each type of surgery has different risks, but after a full prostatectomy, you will no longer create seminal fluid and therefore, will be unable to conceive a child naturally. Most prostatectomies also remove seminal vesicles, as theyre directly connected to the prostate and therefore have no use when the prostate is gone. Since you will no longer be able to make semen, youll experience infertility after prostate surgery. This doesnt mean you will no longer be able to orgasm however, they will be what are considered dry orgasms that produce no semen. Dry orgasms still produce the same feeling of sensation of pleasure that result in an orgasm, the only difference is there will be no semen. While this can create a period of adjustment, over time many men get used to it and cant tell a difference. In some cases, men have even reported that their orgasms feel stronger or more pleasurable.
In some cases, prostate surgery can also lead to damaged nerves that interfere with the ejaculation process. This means that semen will either no longer be made or it wont be able to leave the body naturally. Retrograde ejaculation is also a possible side effect in certain prostate surgeries, so always talk to your doctor beforehand to better understand your risks and what to expect.
Recommended Reading: Ejaculation Problems With Tamsulosin
Sex When You’re Single
Being sexually active and feeling attractive can be just as important if you are a single man. All the treatments described here are available to you if you’re single – whether you want to be able to masturbate, have sex, or want to start a new relationship.
If you are starting a new relationship, sexual problems and other side effects like urinary or bowel problems could be a worry. Some men worry that having problems with erections will affect their chances of having a new relationship. Fear of rejection is natural, and everyone has their own worries, whether or not they’ve had cancer. If you’re single, you may want time to come to terms with any changes prostate cancer has caused before you start having sex or dating.
Try talking over your worries with someone you feel comfortable with, such as a friend. Counselling or sex therapy may also help if you would prefer to talk to someone you don’t know.
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.
Recommended Reading: Fiducials Prostate Cancer
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.
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 a low white blood cell count or low platelet count , you may need to refrain from any sexual activity that involves vaginal or anal penetration. This is because there is an increased risk of infection or bleeding when your counts are low.
- If you have mouth sores , you should not perform oral sex.
- Do not have vaginal intercourse if you have open sores on your genitals.
- Do not have receptive anal sex if you have sores in the rectal area, rectal bleeding, or tears in the rectal tissue.
- If you received brachytherapy for prostate cancer , be sure to follow your oncology team’s guidance about limiting close physical contact to avoid exposing your partner to radiation.
Also Check: Chemo Drug For Prostate Cancer
Surgery To Remove The Prostate
You no longer ejaculate semen if you have had a radical prostatectomy. This is because the prostate gland and 2 glands called the seminal vesicles are removed. The seminal vesicles make the liquid part of the sperm. Your testicles will still make sperm cells but they will be reabsorbed back into your body.
You are still able to have an orgasm, but it will be a dry orgasm. Some men say that a dry orgasm without semen feels normal. But other men find that their orgasm is less intense and pleasurable. The loss of a visible ejaculation can be significant for some men and their partners. Some men say that it feels different but they have managed to find ways to adjust to this.
If you are used to having anal sex and you are the receiving partner, surgery to remove the prostate gland can change this experience. Some men can find the penis rubbing against the prostate gland pleasurable. So if the prostate gland is no longer there, anal sex might feel different. You could look at different ways of enjoying sex and being intimate. Counselling and sex therapy might help.
Achieving Orgasm After Radical Prostatectomy
Men worry about erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy, the operation that involves removing the prostate gland as a way to treat prostate cancer. Its a legitimate concern. Men, their spouses and partners, and their surgeons should talk about erectile dysfunction before and after the surgery. Almost all men will experience erectile dysfunction for several months to a year after a radical prostatectomy, although todays nerve-sparing operation has decreased the number of cases when its permanent.
But orgasm after radical prostatectomy? Its often even not on the radar screen. Dr. Ravi Kacker thinks that should change.
Sometimes orgasm gets forgotten because everyone is so focused on erectile dysfunction, says Dr. Kacker, a urologist and fellow in male sexual medicine at Harvard-affiliated BethIsraelDeaconessMedical Center. But for somemaybe mostmen and their partners, achieving orgasm can be as important as erectionsor even more so for having a healthy sex life.
And, says Dr. Kacker, theres good news. Orgasms after radical prostatectomy may feel qualitatively different for most men, but they dont need to be any less pleasurable or satisfying.
Also Check: What Color Ribbon Is Testicular Cancer
Can You Really Increase Your Semen Volume
This is an article about how you can increase semen volume. It is also about sperm quality and motility.
Increasing semen production, coming more , more spunk however you want to label is often seen as a sign of virility.
But wait! Why do you want to increase your semen volume? Is it just for vanity reasons? Or for fertility?
Is it because you believe doing so will increase our sperm count or is your ambition to shoot for the stars? Either way, there are some things you need to know.
The best way to increase semen volume is to use a supplement like Semenax for example. Semenax is primarily used to increase your sexual experience better, longer and more intense orgasms, as well as more seminal fluid.If you want to increase your chances of fatherhood and fertility, improve sperm quality and motility then use a premium supplement like Semenoll. Diet is also essential, as is a healthy lifestyle . Couple this with a premium supplement and your odds increase exponentially.
You can stack both supplements for the best of both worlds.
increasing your semen volume may increase your sperm countbut it will increase the size of the wet patch on your bed sheets
First of all, increasing your semen volume may increase your sperm count. It will also give your little tadpoles more room to swim around.
The second thing you need to be aware of is, some people wont be impressed if you suddenly become capable of increasing the size of the wet patch on their side of the bed.
How To Maintain Your Sex Life After Prostate Surgery
Although prostate surgery can affect your sexual experience and performance, getting surgery to remove part or all of your prostate doesnt mean that you can no longer have sex or enjoy a satisfying sexual life.
However, it does mean that you may need to make some changes to how you and your partner have sex. These may include using ED medications, erection-promoting devices or engaging in penile rehabilitation exercises to keep your penis stimulated and healthy.
If youve recently had prostate surgery, its important to talk to your healthcare provider before you make any changes to your health habits. Theyll be able to inform you about what you can do to restore and improve your sexual function after surgery.
Also Check: Is Cialis Good For Bph
Do Men Ejaculate Normally After Turp Procedure
Most prostate surgery procedures to remove obstructing prostate tissue including TURP and bipolar TURP lead to lack of ejaculation or anejaculation, sometimes called retrograde ejaculation. Anejaculation is a very common side effect of prostate surgery affecting more than 80% of patients who undergo TURP procedure. Anejaculation after TURP is irreversible.
Other treatment options for enlarged prostate such as laser ablation with holmium laser, Greenlight laser, and prostate laser enucleation also lead to anejaculation in many men.
Erection After Prostate Cancer Treatment
Following prostate cancer treatment of any kind, it is a possibility that you will no longer be able to have an erection. If you are unable to have an erection following treatment, this condition may last only for a short time or could be permanent.
All of the currently available, potentially curative treatment options for prostate cancer can result in temporary or permanent erectile dysfunction , though many men who undergo treatment for prostate cancer see little or no ill effects to their erectile function. Radiation therapy, prostate surgery, cryotherapy, hormone therapy, and others can all result in ED.
Unfortunately, there is no definitive way to determine which men will have ED following treatment. In general, men with vascular conditions, diabetes, obesity, or pre-existing erectile problems are at greater risk for ED.
Studies that have sought to determine the chance of men having ED following prostatectomy, radiation, and other prostate cancer treatments have resulted in widely varying numbers. Some studies seem to show that only a small percentage of men have long-standing issues with ED, while others have shown much higher numbers.
For men who have undergone prostatectomy, long-term ED has been seen in up to 67% percent of men, but some studies have shown that using medications such as Viagra may help to achieve erectile functioning.
Additionally, for men being treated with hormone deprivation therapy, the symptoms of ED often end after stopping the treatment.
Don’t Miss: Is Cranberry Juice Good For The Prostate
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.
What If I Am No Longer Fertile But Banked Sperm Before Treatment
To use the sperm you froze before treatment, you and your partner will need to work with a reproductive endocrinologist . The method used to fertilize your female partners eggs will be based on the quality of the specimens you were able to freeze before treatment.
- Intra-uterine insemination : One or 2 vials of your sperm are thawed and drawn up into a thin, soft catheter. This is placed in your female partners uterus and the sperm are released. This is done around the time she ovulates .
- It takes most women 3 to 6 attempts at IUI before they are successful, so most patients who sperm banked will not have enough sperm to use this method. However, it may be a good option for you if your partner is young and has no fertility problems, and if you have many vials of sperm with high sperm counts and good motility.
Don’t Miss: Tamsulosin And Ejaculation Problems