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Does Prostate Problems Cause Erectile Dysfunction

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Why Does It Take So Long To Recover Erections After The Very Best Surgery

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A number of explanations have been proposed for this phenomenon of delayed recovery, including mechanically induced nerve stretching that may occur during prostate retraction, thermal damage to nerve tissue caused by electrocoagulative cautery during surgical dissection, injury to nerve tissue amid attempts to control surgical bleeding, and local inflammatory effects associated with surgical trauma.

What Current Options Exist To Treat Erectile Dysfunction After Radical Prostatectomy

Options include pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions. Pharmacotherapies include the oral PDE-5 inhibitors , intraurethral suppositories , and intracavernous injections . Non-pharmacologic therapies, which do not rely on the biochemical reactivity of the erectile tissue, include vacuum constriction devices and penile implants .

Men who have undergone nerve-sparing technique should be offered therapies that are not expected to interfere with the potential recovery of spontaneous, natural erectile function. In this light, penile prosthesis surgery would not be considered an option in this select group, at least in the initial 2 year post-operative period, until it becomes evident in some individuals that such recovery is unlikely.

Urinary Symptoms Linked To Sexual Dysfunction

In this study, published in the current issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, researchers studied 2,115 men between the ages of 40 and 79. The men completed questionnaires about their sexual function and urinary tract symptoms every two years.

Researchers found that each of the indicators of sexual function was inversely related to the severity of urinary tract symptoms reported by the men. As the men’s urinary symptoms increased, their level of sexual function decreased.

After adjusting for age, urinary tract symptoms resulting from an enlarged prostate that were most strongly associated with sexual dysfunction were:

  • A feeling of urgency
  • Needing to get up multiple times at night to urinate
  • A weak urine stream

These symptoms were associated with:

  • Difficulty getting or maintaining an erection
  • Sexual satisfaction problems

However, the association with men’s urinary tract symptoms and sexual dysfunction diminished with advancing age. No association between these symptoms and most sexual problems were found in men over age 70.

Researchers say that because both of these conditions are common in aging man, it may be very difficult to see if a true association exists outside of an age-related one.

“This observation shows there may be a common cause that someday may prove amenable to medical treatments that could be effective for treating both conditions,” says researcher Steven Jacobsen, MD, PhD, of the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn., in a news release.

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Future Treatments For Ried

Stem cells in rat model of RiED

Stem cells are naturally occurring cells that repopulate healthy tissue and aid in the repair of damaged tissue. Qiu et al reported significant decrease in erectile function postradiation and found that injection of adipose-derived stem cells can ameliorate RiED in a rat model. Fandel et al were the first to provide evidence that intracavernosal injected SCs rapidly disappeared from the injection site and migrated to major pelvic ganglia in rats with cavernous nerve injury. Later, Qiu et al established RiED as a target for SC therapy and showed that IC injection of stem cells was able to treat both acute and chronic CN injury-induced ED., Kovanecz et al showed that IC injection of SkMSC alone or in combination with oral sildenafil was able to normalize erectile function in rats with CN injury. There has been a lot of progress in this field of research. SC transplantation has mostly been done by IC injection, but more recent studies try alternative routes, such as intravenous injection, periprostatic injection, and scaffolding. To gain more of an understanding of how SCs exert their therapeutic effects postradiation treatment, research efforts need to shift the preference for functional outcomes toward the elucidation of mechanisms.

Shockwave therapy for the treatment of RiED

Nutritional supplementation in RiED

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Nerve Damage From Surgery

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The most common way surgery affects erections is by removing or causing injury to the nerves that help cause an erection. All of the operations listed above can damage these nerves. The nerves surround the back and sides of the prostate gland between the prostate and the rectum, and fan out like a cobweb around the prostate, which makes it easy to damage them during an operation.

When possible, nerve-sparing methods are used in radical prostatectomy, radical cystectomy, AP resection, or TME. In nerve-sparing surgery, doctors carefully try to avoid these nerves. When the size and location of a tumor allow for nerve-sparing surgery, more men recover erections than with other techniques. But even if the surgeon is able to spare these nerves, they might still be injured during the operation and need time to heal.

Even when the nerves are spared, research has shown that the healing process takes up to 2 years for most men. We dont know all the reasons some men regain full erections and others do not. We do know that men are more likely to recover erections when nerves on both the left and right sides of the prostate are spared.

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Chemotherapy Targeted Therapy And Immunotherapy Effects On Erections

Other types of treatment for other types of cancer sometimes affect sexual desire and erections because certain drugs slow down testosterone output. Whether chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy drugs cause problems with erections depends on the type of cancer being treated and the type of drug or drugs being given. Some of the medicines used to prevent nausea during chemo can also upset a mans hormone balance. But hormone levels should return to normal after treatment ends.

Why Can Prostate Issues Cause Erectile Dysfunction

Why are prostate conditions commonly also associated with ED? Learn more about the connection between these two conditions.

Prostate concerns commonly occur in men as they age, and the first symptoms may be difficulty urinating, or more frequent trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

But, is there a correlation between prostate problems and developing erectile dysfunction?

Both of these conditions increase in frequency as men get older, so it is difficult to know if one is definitely correlated with the other, but there may be a few things going on when you have prostate problems that can lead to issues in the bedroom as well.

Below, we will cover just how issues with the prostate gland including benign prostatic hyperplasia , and prostate cancer may have impacts on erectile function.

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Enlarged Prostate This Treatment Can Help You Avoid Sexual Side Effects

Benign prostatic hyperplasia , or enlarged prostate, is a common condition in men older than age 50. BPH occurs when the prostate gland becomes enlarged and begins to press on the urethra the tube that carries urine out of the body.

When the prostate continues to grow, it can lead to urinary symptoms that include:

  • Leaking or dribbling of urine
  • Frequent nighttime awakenings to urinate
  • Urinary retention or urgency
  • A weak urine stream

BPH is not prostate cancer and it doesnt lead to cancer. However, the two conditions may have similar symptoms in the early stages

So its important that men who experience these symptoms be evaluated by a mens health specialist to rule out cancer and determine the best treatment options to relieve their symptoms.

Without treatment, BPH can lead to serious complications in some men, including incontinence, kidney or bladder damage, urinary tract infections and bladder stones. In some extreme cases, BPH can cause a total inability to urinate and require emergency catheterization.

What Are The Available Treatments For Bph

Cancer Mythbusters: Prostate treatment and ED

As men get older, their prostates tend to become enlarged. This is usually from a lifetime of bad habits. However, prostate enlargement does not equate to prostate cancer. Having an enlarged prostate does not inevitably mean you will get cancer.

Once diagnosed, doctors usually recommend medication. It is essential you know that some of the drugs used to treat BPH have side-effects. Some of these include erectile dysfunction and a diminished sex drive.

Men who take alpha-blockers and alpha-reductase are prone to develop erectile dysfunction.

Studies show that approximately 3% of men who took Dutasteride and 6.4% of men who took Finasteride experienced a loss of libido.

Therefore, it is not uncommon for men to experience flagging sexual desire and compromised erectile after initiation of treatment.

Recent scientific research has pointed out that medicine such as blue pills will also have a relaxing effect on the prostate.

30% of men facing BPH will encounter compromised sexual function. One-third of men suffering ED have troubling symptoms related to the prostate.

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At What Age Do Guys Have Trouble Getting Hard

Doctor’s Response. The most common sexual problem in men as they age is erectile dysfunction . In general, the younger a man is, the better his sexual function will be. About 40% of men are affected by erectile dysfunction at age 40, and nearly 70% of men are affected by ED by the time they turn 70.

How Can An Enlarged Prostate Cause Erectile Dysfunction

Its unknown whether an enlarged prostate directly causes ED. Experts have suggested possible reasons for the links between prostate enlargement and ED. These include the conditions both being age-related and having similar risk factors.

Other evidence suggests that an enlarged prostate can cause issues with the urinary system, potentially contributing to ED.

Researchers have also found a few cellular parts that dont function properly in prostate enlargement and ED.

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Enlarged Prostate And Sex Drive

Although we cant say for certain that an enlarged prostate will cause erectile dysfunction or problems ejaculating, there is plenty of evidence that the condition can and does impact the sex lives of those who experience it. BPH can affect your sex drive , because you might feel generally stressed or anxious about your symptoms.

If you feel that your prostate is impacting your sex life, you should talk to your doctor.

Nerve Damage From Radiation

Facts and Specifics About Erectile Dysfunction

Some men who get radiation will notice that their erections change for the worse over the first year or so after treatment. This change most often develops slowly. Some men will still have full erections but lose them before reaching climax. Others no longer get firm erections at all.

As with surgery, the older you are, the more likely it is you will have problems with erections. And men with heart or blood vessel disease, diabetes, or who have smoked heavily seem to be at greater risk for erection problems. This is because their arteries may already be damaged before radiation treatment. Doctors are looking at whether early penile rehabilitation could help after radiation therapy, too.

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What Kinds Of Prostate Problems Can Cause Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction and prostate enlargement issues are two completely different problems. They usually will come with different symptoms, as well as different causes, and at one point, different treatments. When men reach middle age, the prostate will often start to enlarge.

Any form of enlargement can cause a range of difficulties with urination. The prostate itself causes issues, not for sex, but urination in particular. A few common prostate issues could cause erectile dysfunction.

Treatments that are meant to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia can cause ejaculatory or erectile dysfunction issues. BPH is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate

Some of these treatments that could present these causes could be:

  • Anti testosterone drugs
  • Transurethral resection of the prostate

5 Alpha reductase inhibitors show a potential for risk association that could impact erectile physiology. These inhibitors provide a drop in median serum dihydrotestosterone levels between 60% and 93% within at least two years.

While it’s possible that alpha-blockers could contribute to ED, they often don’t cause issues with erections. Some men often see improvement in their condition after taking the medication. Anti testosterone drugs could cause lower amounts of testosterone.

Why Does Prostate Surgery Cause Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction refers to a condition that occurs when a man cant achieve an erection or maintain an erection for sexual intercourse. Many factors can contribute to erectile dysfunction including problems with the nervous system, blood vessels and hormones.

There are two small clusters of nerves which control erections that are located on both sides of the prostate. These nerves may become injured during the operation. Your surgeon may also purposefully remove these nerves if thereâs a chance that the cancer has invaded them. If these set of nerves are removed, then you wont be able to become erect without being assisted by medical devices.

There is also a type of prostate surgery called nerve sparing prostatectomy, where both bundle of nerves around the prostate are avoided. However, not everyone is suitable for this surgery, and eligibility also depends on the size and location of the cancer.

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How Is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Prevented

BPH is very common in older men because of the natural decline in testosterone as men age. This means that, especially as men get older, its nearly impossible to prevent BPH completely. However, you can target some risk factors to reduce the chance of developing a more severe case of BPH.

Moderate exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and blood pressure could influence BPH risks and outcomes.

Furthermore, your doctor should treat any infections quickly to reduce BPH risks. Chronic or untreated infections can cause inflammation that can contribute to BPH risks in the long term.

How Long After Prostate Surgery Can You Have Sex

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Regardless of the outcome of prostate cancer surgery at the level of the genital organ, surgeons recommend abstinence for a period of a few weeks. This is due to the fact that the body requires time for healing itself after an invasive procedure.

Considering those cases where patients led a healthy sex life before the diagnosis, they may be looking at a period of 6 weeks to 12 months before they can resume their sex life once the surgery is successful.

This estimation shrinks in case the patients opt for robotic prostate cancer surgery. This procedure relies on the assistance of a computer interface and mechanical arms. Together, they remove the tissue and organs affected by the tumor leaving the damaging repercussions to a minimum.

Compared to open surgery, the robotic approach ensures faster recovery, less blood loss, and a smaller risk for transfusion. Regarding sex life, this procedure may be a shortcut to more satisfactory performance after surgery.

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Enlarged Prostate Tied To Sexual Dysfunction

Urinary Tract Symptoms May Be Associated With Erectile Dysfunction

The study shows that urinary tract problems caused by an enlarged prostate, such as getting up many times during the night to urinate, may be associated with erectile dysfunction and other problems relating to sex in older men. They say these two extremely frequent conditions may share a common cause.

Researchers say lower urinary tract symptoms become more common as men age and their prostates enlarge . Meanwhile, problems with erectile dysfunction also become more prevalent in older men, affecting more than 100 million men worldwide over age 65.

But researchers say few studies have looked at whether the two issues are related or simply a by-product of age.

Assessing Your Cardiovascular Health

Your GP may assess your cardiovascular health. Narrowed blood vessels are a common cause of erectile dysfunction and linked with cardiovascular disease .

Your GP may:

As well as helping to improve your erectile dysfunction, these changes can also improve your general health and may help to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease .

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How Do You Fix Ed Problems

Here are some steps that might help:

  • If you smoke, quit. If you have trouble quitting, get help. …
  • Lose excess pounds. Being overweight can cause or worsen erectile dysfunction.
  • Include physical activity in your daily routine. …
  • Get treatment for alcohol or drug problems. …
  • Work through relationship issues.
  • How Soon After Prostate Cancer Treatment Can I Be Sexually Active Again

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    This will depend on what type of treatment you have had and how you feel. It could be several weeks, for others it may be a lot longer for erections to return. Some men will never be able to keep an erection without the help of artificial methods like medicines or medical devices . If you were having problems having erections before treatment, this will not get better after treatment.

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    How To Restore Your Lost Potency

    It is always better to discuss with your doctor before the surgery the possibilities of ED post-surgery and ways to treat it. Discuss the effects of chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, or any other medical conditions you might be suffering from on your ED after the surgery.

    There are a few medical and non-medical treatment options for ED post prostatectomy surgery. These include:

    Common Reasons For Needing Prostate Surgery

    First, lets discuss some of the reasons why someone might need to have prostate surgery.

    The two most common culprits that require surgery are prostate cancer treatment and prostate enlargement .

    Cancer.org estimates that there will be about 248,530 new cases of prostate cancer in the United States in 2021. TheCDC states that aside from skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer among men in the US.

    Benign prostatic hyperplasia, on the other hand, affects about 50% of men between the ages of 51 and 60 according toNIH. TheUrology Foundation says that it will increase to 90% for men 80 years old and above.

    Both conditions might require partial or full removal of the prostate otherwise known as a prostatectomy. There are several reasons why a doctor will recommend prostate surgery:

  • To treat your condition
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