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Can A Man With Prostate Cancer Get A Woman Pregnant

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What If I Have Prostate Cancer And Want To Have Children

Man Discovers He Has Cancer After Using Pregnancy Test

If maintaining the possibility of fatherhood is important to you, be sure to discuss that with your doctor. Men with low-risk, slow-growing prostate cancer may be able to avoid infertility by choosing active surveillance. However, if your cancer requires treatment, there are some options you can pursue to maintain the possibility of fathering children:

When A Cure For Your Prostate Cancer Isnt Possible

If the cancer has spread and it is not possible to cure it with surgery, your doctor may still recommend treatment that focuses on improving quality of life by relieving the symptoms . Medications can be used to relieve pain, nausea and vomiting. The Cancer Council Victoria booklet called Living with advanced cancer may be helpful to read.

Fertility Preservation Options For Boys And Men

Men and boys with cancer have options to preserve their fertility. These procedures may be available at the hospital where you are receiving cancer treatment or at a fertility preservation clinic.

Talk with your doctor about the best option for you based on your age, the type of cancer you have, and the specific treatment you will be receiving. The success rate, financial cost, and availability of these procedures varies.

  • Sperm banking is the most common and easy option for young men of reproductive age who would like to have children one day. Samples of semen are collected and checked under a microscope in the laboratory. The sperm are then frozen and stored for the future. Sperm can be frozen for an indefinite amount of time.
  • Testicular shielding is a procedure in which a protective cover is placed on the outside of the body to shield the testicles from scatter radiation to the pelvis when other parts of the body are being treated with radiation.
  • Testicular sperm extraction is a procedure for males who are not able to produce a semen sample. Sperm is collected through a medical procedure and frozen for future use.
  • Testicular tissue freezing is still considered an experimental procedure at most hospitals. For boys who have not gone through puberty and are at high risk of infertility, this procedure may be an option.

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What Can I As A Partner Expect

One of the effects of prostate cancer treatment is erectile dysfunction or impotence. This means that your partner may not be able to have erections that are hard enough for him to have sex with you or that he may not be interested in sex because of the medicine he is taking to treat his prostate cancer. This affects not only the man, but you, too, as his intimate partner. If you are the partner of a man with erectile dysfunction, it can be difficult to cope with changes in your sexual relationship. Sometimes men struggle to come to terms with changes in their body image or their ability to perform sexually. This can sometimes result in him staying away from intimate situations where he may feel under pressure to make love. As a partner you may feel rejected by what seems like a lack of sexual interest or intimacy. This may not have anything to do with his feelings for you, but is a result of his cancer treatment. Erectile dysfunction can be difficult for both of you. You may want to reassure your partner that:

  • Sex is not as important as long as he is healthy and that he is no less of a man to you
  • You will work through it with him
  • You understand his feelings
  • He is important to you

It may help if you explain to your partner how important nonsexual touching and intimacy such as kissing and cuddling is to you.

Are There Things I Can Do To Help Myself If I Have Erectile Dysfunction

How Prostate Problems Affect Pregnancy

Yes, there are changes you can make in your life that may help with your erectile dysfunction. Remember to speak with your doctor or healthcare team before making any of these changes.

Some changes you may want to consider are:

  • Try to exercise on a regular basis.
  • Try to eat a healthy diet.
  • Drink responsibly. Long-term, heavy drinking lowers your ability to have an erection.
  • Try to lower your stress and fatigue . Being diagnosed with prostate cancer and working in all the changes it brings to your life can be stressful. Stress and the tiredness caused by your prostate cancer treatment, can make it difficult for you to get in the mood. Many men going through prostate cancer treatment feel this way. Talking with your partner might help lower your stress. You may also speak to your doctor or healthcare team about how you are feeling. They are there to help you through this time.
  • Stop smoking. Research studies show that smoking can harm your ability to have sex. If you need help to stop smoking, speak with your doctor or healthcare team.
  • Practice your Kegel exercises. Kegel exercises help strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, which support your bladder and bowel. These muscles also help with erections. For more information, please see the IMPACT booklet, Kegel Exercises for Men.

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Symptoms Related To Troubles Associated With Female Prostate

As prostate cancers in women are rare so you will not be able to find many case studies about this disease. Thus for most of people, it is quite difficult to recognise the symptoms associated with prostate cancer.

Note that, in case if you face any bleeding during urination then it is advised to consult your medical professional as soon as possible. The reason behind is that this is the common symptom for prostate cancer in women. Most of the times, females do not feel pain during this bleeding but it may happen again and again for longer time span.

The best idea is to contact your medical professional as soon as possible so that right treatment can be initiated at right time. On time diagnosis often leads to improvement over several tough conditions. Also, it is good to see doctor in case if you observe any of these troubles:

  • Frequent and painful urination where females may feel difficulty in urine passage.
  • Notice blood mixed in urine.
  • Suffer with painful sexual intercourse.
  • Some females also feel pressure behind pubic bones.
  • One can also face abnormal cycles for menstruation and it may also cause sudden changes in cycles.

Prostate in females is not always due to cancer. Here are several conditions that may also lead to prostate development:

Spermaturia After Radical Prostatectomy: Is Surgical Preservation Of Fertility Possible

Chad Reichard

1Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Q10-1, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA

Academic Editor:

Abstract

Ease of sperm retrieval has not been previously described as a goal for patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer; however preservation of fertility is a known concern for some younger prostate cancer patients. We present the first knowncase of a patient with postejaculatory spermaturia following robotic assisted radical prostatectomy. We hypothesize that this is due to fistula formation between the vas deferens and the urinary tract.

1. Introduction

The mean age at diagnosis of prostate cancer from 2005 to 2009 was 67 years of age . For the majority of patients in this age group, maintaining fertility is not a high priority. Cancer control, urinary continence, and erectile function are the more concerning outcomes for patients . However, there are reports of younger men with prostate cancer undergoing sperm cryopreservation and percutaneous epididymal sperm extraction for intracytoplasmic sperm injection . Patients with low or intermediate risk disease and thus a more favorable prognosis of cure from surgery alone might benefit from an attempt at concomitant preservation of continuity of the vas with the urinary tract in order to facilitate ease of sperm retrieval for future efforts of conception.

2. Case Report

Postejaculatory urine microscopy.

3. Discussion

4. Conclusions

References

Copyright

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What Will I Learn By Reading This

When you have treatment for your prostate cancer, you may have erectile dysfunction also known as impotence. Erectile dysfunction is a very common side effect . Side effects from prostate cancer treatment are different from one man to the next. They may also be different from one treatment to the next. Some men have no erectile dysfunction. The good news is that there are ways to deal with erectile dysfunction. In this booklet you will learn:

  • What erectile dysfunction is
  • Why prostate cancer treatment can cause erectile dysfunction
  • What can be done about erectile dysfunction
  • How erectile dysfunction may affect your sex life
  • What your partner can expect

It is important for you to learn how to deal with erectile dysfunction so that you can continue to have a satisfying intimate relationship.

How Prostate Cancer Treatment Can Affect Fertility

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Treatment for prostate cancer may affect your ability to have children for a period of time or forever. It depends on your age, health, and the nature of the treatment. Talk to your doctor before treatment starts if you have concerns about your fertility. There may be things you can do to prepare for the future.

Prostate cancer treatments include:

Surgery. This typically removes the prostate gland and two other small glands called seminal vesicles. They all work together to carry semen out of your penis. Without them, you canât send sperm outside of your body to fertilize an egg. Surgery for bladder cancer often removes the prostate and seminal vesicles as well. Surgery for other pelvic cancers like colon and rectal cancer can damage the prostate, nerves, and other organs, leading to infertility or erectile dysfunction.

Radiation therapy. This treatment uses high-energy beams, like supercharged X-rays, to kill cancer cells. The area the cancer is in — in this case the prostate — is targeted. But radiation therapy anywhere around your sex organs or belly area can lessen your sperm count and testosterone levels . It can even destroy sperm cells. The damage may be short, medium, or long term.

Hormone therapy. Also known as androgen deprivation therapy , it stops your body from making male sex hormones like testosterone. Some hormones âfeedâ prostate cancer cells, helping them grow. Though ADT can slow tumor growth, it may also affect your ability to make sperm.

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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.

Fertility Outcomes After Treatment

Semen production often returns to normal after a few months and some males are able to conceive after cancer treatment without medical assistance. Erectile function can also continue to improve for up to three years after treatment has finished.

For other males the effect on sperm production and ability to have erections is permanent and causes infertility. It may take time to accept this see Emotional impact of infertilityto learn some coping strategies.

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Surgery For Prostate Cancer

For men who have prostate cancer, one treatment choice is to surgically remove the prostate gland and seminal vesicles. This is known as a radical prostatectomy. The seminal vesicles work with the prostate to make the semen that carries the sperm out of a man’s penis. Because the gland and seminal vesicles are taken out, the sperm is no longer able to physically make it out of the man’s body to fertilize the woman’s egg. If you are thinking about surgery for prostate cancer and would like to have more children, talk to you doctor before surgery about sperm banking. For more facts about prostate cancer, visit:www.UrologyHealth.org/ProstateCancer

Preserving Fertility In Men

Female Prostate Cancer: Is It Possible?

Fertility preservation is much easier, cheaper and more effective for most men. It simply involves collecting a sample of semen and freezing it. Sperm must be banked before any chemotherapy or pelvic radiation therapy begins in order to avoid storing damaged sperm. The sperm can be thawed later and used for intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization.

Many young men diagnosed with cancer have poor sperm quality because of the illness, recent anesthesia or stress. Even if a man has only a few live sperm in his semen, they can be used for in vitro fertilization to provide a good chance of pregnancy. In this situation, when the sample is thawed, the healthiest sperm are captured and injected into the woman’s harvested eggs using a robotic microscope in the laboratory.

Insurance generally does not cover the cost of the sperm banking, and storing one ejaculate for five years averages around $500. Some sperm banks have special payment plans for cancer patients. For men who no longer ejaculate semen but would like to bank sperm, a urologist may be able to collect sperm from the storage areas above the testicles or even from tissue inside the testicles with outpatient surgery.

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How To Milk The Prostate Right

How to do it properly. It is very difficult as they may affect different diseases; some of them are very dangerous, such as prostate cancer, which is known as a great influence on a large male population. In lesions warning in May, trying to trade in the prostate, which should be on a regular basis to work as a treatment.

Maybe turn the word sounds strange to you. This means that a massage in this region, we say, and this can be done independently, without external assistance. Heres how you do it correctly.

  • First, in the area must be mitigated.
  • Thus, to urinate or relax your intestines to eliminate the stress of the body.
  • It is important to keep nails short and trim, in order to avoid the failure of the delicate skin inside your rectum.
  • Hygiene is also very important. Wash your hands and body thoroughly.
  • To make things easier to put the latex sterile gloves on his hands, you will use for milking your prostate. In addition, some water-based lubricant, resulting in some of your fingers.
  • As a first step, slowly, introducing a finger or more into his anus. You must return, and then click to press a finger on the navel from the inside.
  • You know, when you raised the prostate, where you will feel your fingers are small, round, that the lamp has a size of a large walnut.
  • Now, when you find it, it starts slowly, massage with some waving people on both sides, and without pressing too hard on the central part of which is rich in nerve endings.
  • Do not scratch with nails.

Diagnosis Of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is diagnosed using a number of tests, which may include:

  • Prostate-specific antigen test the prostate makes a protein called PSA. Large quantities of PSA in the blood can indicate prostate cancer or other prostate problems.
  • Digital rectal examination using a gloved finger in the rectum, the doctor feels for enlargement and irregularities of the prostate.
  • Biopsy six to 12 tissue samples are taken from the prostate and examined in a laboratory for the presence of cancer cells.

If prostate cancer is diagnosed, more tests may be needed to see if the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. These may include computed tomography scans, magnetic resonance imaging scans and bone scans.

Test results can take a few days to come back. It is very natural to feel anxious while waiting to get your results. It can help to talk to a close friend or relative about how you are feeling. You can also contact the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20 and speak with a cancer nurse.

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Radiation For Prostate Cancer

There are two main types of radiation for prostate cancer. One is called brachytherapy and the other is known as external beam radiation. Both can cause short-term or long-lasting problems with fertility. It is best to ask your radiation oncologist about this. For more facts about radiation for prostate cancer visit:www.UrologyHealth.org/PCRadiation

Other Cancer Treatment Effects On Ejaculation

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Some cancer treatments reduce the amount of semen thats produced. After radiation to the prostate, some men ejaculate less semen. Toward the end of radiation treatments, men often feel a sharp pain as they ejaculate. The pain is caused by irritation in the urethra . It should go away over time after treatment ends.

In most cases, men who have hormone therapy for prostate cancer also make less semen than before.

Chemotherapy and other drugs used to treat cancer very rarely affects ejaculation. But there are some drugs that may cause retrograde ejaculation by damaging the nerves that control emission.

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Changes In Penis Size

Some men notice that their penis is shorter after;surgery;. Some men notice other changes such as a curve in their penis or a narrower area. We don’t know for certain why these changes happen, but it could be because of low oxygen levels in the penis, caused by not having erections. Other treatments such as hormone therapy with radiotherapy may also cause changes to the size of your penis.

Encouraging blood flow to the penis after surgery may help prevent this. In particular, using a vacuum pump, either on its own or with PDE5 inhibitor tablets could help maintain your penis size and improve erections.

Keeping your penis active after surgery

Although you may not be ready or recovered enough for sex, you can still start treatment for erection problems in the weeks immediately after surgery. It could be taking a low-dose PDE5 tablet once a day or using a vacuum pump, or sometimes both together. The treatment along with masturbation encourages blood flow to the penis. This can help keep your penis healthy. You may hear this called;penile rehabilitation. Think of it in the same way as having physiotherapy if you had injured your arm or leg. Starting treatment soon after surgery may help improve your chance of getting and keeping an erection. But it may not work for every man.

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