Does Viagra Work After Prostate Surgery
Many men have erection problems after prostate removal due to prostate cancer. Prostate health problems, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer, affect hundreds of thousands of men each year.
If youve been diagnosed with a serious prostate problem, your doctor may suggest a prostatectomy , a surgical procedure in which part or all of the prostate is surgically removed.
Surgery to remove the prostate is usually very effective in treating prostate cancer and inflammation , but it can lead to complications. Among them, sexual performance problems such as erectile dysfunction and difficulty ejaculating normally.
Although these effects can change your experience of sex, many men can continue to enjoy a full and satisfying sex life after prostate surgery by making certain lifestyle changes and using medication.
Studies indicate that the administration of Viagra or the use of certain devices to help erections can make men recover erectile capacity more quickly and effectively, when they are carried out on a regular and scheduled basis instead of based on need.
Patients who received Viagra were found to have similar reported erections and erection quality to patients who did not take any medication regularly or used it as needed.
How Do I Get A Different Size
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Restoring Erectile Function After Prostatectomy
In todays world, the overall mortality for almost every cancer is falling. In many cases, the incidence of various cancers is also declining.
However, for prostate cancer, the incidence has been steadily rising since the advent of the Prostate Specific Antigen test. 1
Considering that the American Cancer Society lists the 10 year survival rate for prostate cancer at 98 percent, this poses a problem. Is the 10 year survival rate due to excellent early detection and treatment, or was treatment not needed?
For many years, the medical paradigm for all cancer, including prostate cancer, has been to find and treat it early to effect a cure. It is well-known that prostate cancer can be very slow-growing and that some prostate cancer is of an indolent type that may never rise to a level of a significant problem.
Early detection and treatment of indolent prostate cancer that will likely never become life-altering are often more damaging than allowing natural disease progression. This is especially true regarding a mans quality of life.
In autopsy studies of men that died from causes other than prostate cancer, many were found to have long-term, undetected cancer in their prostates. This overdiagnosis and overtreatment can cause more harm to a man than living with the disease.
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Can Erection Rehabilitation Be Applied To Improve Erection Recovery Rates
A relatively new strategy in clinical management after radical prostatectomy has arisen from the idea that early induced sexual stimulation and blood flow in the penis may facilitate the return of natural erectile function and resumption of medically unassisted sexual activity. There is an interest in using oral PDE5 inhibitors for this purpose, since this therapy is noninvasive, convenient, and highly tolerable. However, while the early, regular use of PDE5 inhibitors or other currently available, “on-demand” therapies is widely touted after surgery for purposes of erection rehabilitation, such therapy is mainly empiric. Evidence for its success remains limited.
How To Treat Erectile Dysfunction After Prostate Surgery
Prostate surgery is challenging enough. But to make matters worse, such an operation may impact ones sex life. The prostate is a vital part of the reproductive system. Its responsible for producing fluids that carry sperm.
So when the prostate is affected, this can lead to conditions like erectile dysfunction.
But that doesnt mean you cant do anything about it. There are ways to bring back erectile function to your penis. In this post, well talk about some of the prostate erectile dysfunction treatment options available to you.
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Treatments For Erection Problems And Penile Rehabilitation
Different treatments work for different people and they can have side effects. Talk through your options with a doctor or nurse with expertise in this area. Ask them to refer you to your local Erectile Dysfunction Clinic if they are not able to give you this specialist advice.
As well as causing erection difficulties, surgery and radiotherapy can cause a shortening in the length and width of the penis. So treatments for erection difficulties are part of a programme called penile rehabilitation. This is also called erectile dysfunction rehabilitation.
The aim of penile rehabilitation is to:
- maintain blood flow to the penis
- reduce damage to the muscle and tissue in the penis
- provide a stimulus for erections
Using and stimulating the penis keeps the tissues active and prevents them from becoming inflexible
This can hopefully help you to adapt to changes in your sexual function and relationships.
A penile rehabilitation programme includes:
- counselling and sex therapy
- pellet injections into the shaft of the penis
- healthy living such as exercise, weight control not smoking and pelvic floor exercises
Where To Get Treatment For Ed In Nyc
At New York Urology Specialists, we offer specialized treatment for ED for men. Same-day appointments are available.
Call/text today: or make an appointment online.
We treat sexual and erection problems and offer for infections. We treat penile problems in men, including phimosis, balanitis, penile irritation, and penile redness. We perform a no-scalpel vasectomy, vasectomy reversal, , , penile frenuloplasty. We offer confidential appointments.
Our prices are ED treatment prices are affordable with or without insurance. Low-cost Viagra and Cialis are available to our patients. We offer free insurance verification.
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Percentage Of Men Obtaining Full Erections 2 Years After Open Prostatectomy
15% 13%
As one can see, the chance of regaining potency diminishes with age and with the number of nerves damaged. Even though it is usually technically possible to spare the nerves, sometimes the nerves themselves are cancerous and must be removed since the primary goal of the surgeon is to remove the prostate cancer. If the cancer has not reached the nerves controlling erection, the da Vinci Robot has the visual capabilities and the precision necessary to spare these nerves in most cases, thus it is possible that using the robot may add to the chances of being potent after surgery. However, there is no way to guarantee this due to variability in patient anatomy and condition. It is important to realize that some men never regain the ability to maintain an erection after robotic prostatectomy.
As mentioned above, medical therapy may aid in return to erections, but this has not as of yet been fully substantiated. Usage of sildenafil and newer erectile medications may potentially increase the potency percentages in the table above but this has not been proven. A recently presented study found that daily doses of 50mg or 100mg sildenafil for 9 months increased full erections by 7 fold when compared with a group who did not receive any medication.
Recent Findings About Regaining Potency After Radical Prostatectomy
It is important to remember that regaining erectile function takes time after radical robotic prostatectomy. Most studies in the literature use endpoints of 18-36 months after prostate cancer surgery. Nerve tissue can be easily damaged during robotic prostatectomy, regardless of the skill of the surgeon, and takes a long time to regenerate. It is believed that early postoperative medical therapy can aid an earlier return to potency.
Dr. Ahlering, a physician with UC Irvine Medical in Orange County, CA. has pioneered the use of electrocautery-free preservation of the neurovascular bundles which are essential for the return of potency after prostate surgery. A recent study by Dr. Patrick Walsh and associates at John Hopkins has shown that mono and bipolar cautery near the potency nerves severely impact the erectile function of dogs. Mono and bipolar cautery are routinely used by many institutions to limit the bleeding during surgery by heat-sealing or ‘cauterizing’ the bleeding vessels.
The nerves for potency are intertwined with a bundle of blood vessels, which must be controlled during prostate cancer surgery to prevent large blood losses. Thus to preserve the nerves of potency, a surgeon also must prevent the bleeding of these vessels also. Cautery is considered a standard method of sealing the blood vessels, allowing the nerve bundles to now be properly visualized.
For comparison we show the standard data on open prostatectomy potency :
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How Do You Wear Eddie
Eddie can be applied when your penis is flaccid or erect .
Place Eddie at the base of your penis, in front of your testicles, with the openingfacing down.
Wrap one of the tension bands around the ends of the device. Use the blue band forless constriction, or use the orange band for maximum constriction.
For those with limited hand strength, an alternative method is to wrap the tensionband around Eddie before placing it on your penis, then gently pull Eddie apart tocreate a wider opening, while sliding it down onto the base of your penis. You canalso try covering the device in lubricant to assist.
Talk to your doctor before using Eddie. We recommend trying Eddie alone, first,before trying it with a partner, to become familiar with how it feels and works.
Sex After Prostate Surgery And Achieving Orgasm
Sex after prostate surgery is an important concern for most men. The total removal of the cancerous tissues is the primary goal, but the quality of life after prostate surgery is also important. Worrying about ED makes men be nervous and anxious when thinking about undergoing radical prostatectomy. Restoring the sexual function after prostate surgery is essential to enjoying life to the fullest!
However, whilst most patients focus on erectile dysfunction, orgasm is somehow under-considered. But is it possible to achieve orgasm after prostatectomy? Erections and orgasm are equally important for a healthy sex life.
First of all, bear in mind that the radical prostatectomy is the surgery performed to remove the prostate gland and sourrounding affected tissue. This is the most recommended treatment for prostate cancer. However, many men wonder if they would be able to have sex after prostate surgery as they did before.
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How Long Does Erectile Dysfunction Last After Prostate Surgery
Is erectile dysfunction a possibility after prostate surgery?
Many patients are concerned about it and prefer other prostate cancer treatments.
However, they should know that most erectile issues are temporary and improve after a while.
These patients usually recover from this problem after a few months.
In this article, we cover sexual function after prostate cancer surgery thoroughly, tell you how long ED can last, and how to cope with erectile problems.
Effective Treatment Of Ed After Prostate Removal Surgery And Radiation Therapy
At New York Urology Specialists, we use the most advanced methods of ED treatment to help men recover erections after prostate cancer treatment with surgical removal of the prostate and radiation therapy , as well as HIFU.
Our approach to the treatment of post-prostatectomy ED is very effective for men of all ages. We offer treatment for impotence for men who are planning to undergo surgery for prostate cancer, men who recently had surgery as well as men who have been living with ED for many years after prostate surgery.
We treat men who are planning to or had radiation therapy or hormonal therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer and experience decreased erection hardness or inability to obtain and maintain erections sufficient for sexual intercourse.
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How To Get Your Sex Drive Back With Viagra After Having A Prostate Surgery
Although prostate surgery can affect your sexual performance, undergoing this surgery does not mean that you cannot have sexual relations or enjoy a satisfactory sexual life. Viagra is an effective medication when it comes to erection after prostate surgery and even a help for men dealing with cancer, whose self-confidence often takes a hit after treatment.
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.
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Why Is There Increasing Concern At This Time Regarding Erectile Dysfunction Issues Following Radical Prostatectomy
The reality of the recovery process after radical prostatectomy today is that erectile function recovery lags behind functional recovery in other areas. Patients are understandably concerned about this issue and, following months of erectile dysfunction, become skeptical of reassurances that their potency will return.
Why Is Rehabilitation Important
Whether you are single, or in a relationship, you should have the opportunity to discuss penile rehabilitation with your doctor or specialist nurse. Self pleasuring is important for many people and this can play a part in rehabilitation. This might help to give you confidence and to become aware of the changes that your treatment might have caused.
It might still be worth talking to your doctor even if you are not sexually active, or dont plan to be. This is because penile rehabilitation has benefits in terms of keeping the penis healthy.
Ideally, rehabilitation should start soon after your prostate cancer treatment, or in some situations before treatment. For example, you should start rehabilitation within 3 to 6 months of starting hormone therapy or radiotherapy. Or within the first 3 months of surgery to remove the prostate gland.
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Surgically Induced Erectile Dysfunction
Unfortunately, many men have unrealistic expectations for sexual recovery after surgery. In many cases, treatment for prostate cancer, especially with radical prostatectomy, has permanent side effects.
Long-term and potentially permanent sexual dysfunction is a common consequence of radical prostatectomy. This can be a massive issue for both a man and his partner.
Even when a mans doctor is quite candid concerning reduced or non-existent sexual function, many men still expect improvements in sexual functioning one or more years after surgery. 4
It is a given that a man might be capable of recovering usable erections after surgery. However, it is also a given that sexual sensations after a prostatectomy will never be the same as they were before surgery.
In most cases, sensation after surgery is significantly altered. Therefore, if a patients expectation for success means recovery to the physical action and sensations prior to surgery, he is destined to be, at the very least, disappointed.
Loss of erectile function often causes a devastating blow to a man used to having sexual performance. Due to a lack of communication with his doctor, he may also be rather surprised about how total the loss is. This loss may also be perceived quite strongly by his partner.
Since complete surgical erectile dysfunction is a very real possibility, any man considering a radical prostatectomy, must, if he values his sex life, also consider other options very seriously.
Sexual Dysfunction After Prostate Surgery Is More Common Than Previously Reported Says Hutchinson Center Study
Media briefing: A media briefing will be held at 1 p.m. PST Tuesday, Jan. 18 at the Center’s Metropolitan Park East Campus, 1730 Minor Ave., between Olive and Howell streets. A Media Relations representative will greet you in the lobby and escort you to the briefing room. Free parking is available in an underground garage entrance off Minor Ave. A map of the site is available upon request.
B-roll available: A related video news release, including sound bites and b-roll of Dr. Janet Stanford and a Seattle-area prostate-cancer survivor, will be available via satellite feed twice on Tuesday, Jan. 18: first between 6 and 6:30 a.m. PST and again between 11 and 11:30 a.m. PST .
SEATTLE — Sexual dysfunction among men who undergo prostatectomy appears more prevalent than previously reported, according to a multi-center study led by an investigator from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.
The results will appear in the Jan. 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Funded by the National Cancer Institute, the Prostate Cancer Outcomes Study is the first comprehensive, population-based assessment of sexual function and urinary continence among men treated with radical prostatectomy for early stage, localized prostate cancer. It is also the first study to examine the sexual and urinary side effects of such surgery in minority populations.
Age and education also had an impact on the frequency of impotence.
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LOCALIZED PROSTATE CANCER
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