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How Does An Enlarged Prostate Cause Ed

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Sexual Side Effects Of Common Treatments For Bph

Enlarged Prostate, ED, and Urine Retention Cured

Some treatment options for enlarged prostate can cause sexual side effects. Not every man gets these side effects but depending on the treatment some or many men can experience these side effects.

Flomax and Uroxatral : these medications are often used for the treatment of enlarged prostate can have un-ejaculation as a side effect. This is not dangerous but many men can get concerned. What happens is that no semen comes out after sex. Men who are bothered by this side effect can often take a different medication that may not cause the same side effect. Men who are trying to get their partner pregnant and develop un-ejaculation from medications such as Flomax should stop the medication and see us to discuss a different treatment option for BPH.

Proscar : finasteride is often taken by men with an enlarged prostate and smaller doses are used to prevent hair loss. Some men develop side effects to finasteride which may include difficulty obtaining and maintaining erections and decreased libido.

TURP and Laser Surgery for Enlarged Prostate: Many surgical treatment options for enlarged prostate can cause retrograde ejaculation . This is not dangerous but some men are concerned. In addition, a small number of men may develop erection problems after transurethral surgery.

The 4 Causes Of An Enlarged Prostate

It is normal for a prostate to become enlarged as a man ages. The prostate is approximately the size of a walnut in younger men but can grow to be much larger as they get older. An enlarged prostate can cause no visible symptoms but will eventually impact urinary and erectile functions if not properly treated.

There are many reasons a prostate gets enlarged, and most of them arent cancerous. Here are the most common:

Dealing With Erectile Dysfunction: For You And Your Partner

The following information is based on the general experiences of many prostate cancer patients. Your experience may be different. If you have any questions about what prostate cancer treatment services are covered by your health insurance, please contact your health care provider or health insurance provider. This education material was made possible by a Grant from the California Department of Justice, Antitrust Law Section, from litigation settlement funds to benefit Californians diagnosed with cancer or their families.

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Can I Have An Orgasm Without An Erection

Yes. An erection is not necessary for orgasm or ejaculation. Even if a man cannot have an erection or can only get or keep a partial erection, with the right sexual stimulation you can experience an orgasm. Your orgasm has little to do with your prostate gland. As long as you have normal skin sensation, you can have an orgasm.

History And Laboratory Tests

Enlarged Prostate

Urinary symptoms can usually be categorized as obstructive or irritative . Notably, these symptoms are not specific for BPH, and a careful history must be obtained to rule out other conditions, such as urethral stricture, bladder neck contraction, calculi, neurogenic bladder, cystitis, prostatitis, and prostate or bladder cancer. A medical and surgical history should focus on any past urologic instrumentation or procedures, urethritis, neurologic conditions, and prescribed or over-the-counter medications being taken currently, especially those with anticholinergic or -adrenergic properties.,, Urinalysis and prostate-specific antigen concentration tests, should be included in the workup of any man who presents with LUTS.

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What Causes The Prostate To Enlarge

  • What causes the prostate to enlarge?
  • Although the exact trigger of BPH is not fully known and may vary from one man to another, there are risk factors that contribute to the condition. Benign prostate enlargement means your prostate grows in size without being cancerous. As the prostate swells and becomes bigger, it presses on your urethra and bladder and may cause a number of urinary and bladder function problems. The known contributing factors to prostate enlargement are age, hormones, stress levels and diet.

    Sex And The Prostate: Overcoming Erectile Dysfunction When You Have Prostate Disease

    If you are concerned about erectile function, its important to understand what erectile dysfunction really is. Failing to have an erection one night after youve had several drinks or even for a week or more during a time of intense emotional stress is not erectile dysfunction. Nor is the inability to have another erection soon after an orgasm. Nearly every man occasionally has trouble getting an erection, and most partners understand that.

    Erectile dysfunction is the inability to attain and maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse at least 25% of the time. The penis doesnt get hard enough, or it gets hard but softens too soon. The problem often develops gradually. One night it may take longer or require more stimulation to get an erection. On another occasion, the erection may not be as firm as usual, or it may end before orgasm. When such difficulties occur regularly, its time to talk to your doctor.

    Erectile dysfunction can have many causes, including some forms of prostate disease and medications and surgery for prostate cancer. Fortunately, in many cases, this problem can often be effectively addressed. Some men find relief by taking medications to treat erectile dysfunction. If these arent effective for you, a number of other options, including injections and vacuum devices, are available. The possibility of finding the right solution is now greater than ever.

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    Can Testosterone Replacement Therapy Increase The Risk For Enlarged Prostate

    So, now lets talk about whether testosterone replacement therapy can affect your risk factors for an enlarged prostate. Its a common misconception that testosterone can cause or worsen BPH. There are a few reasons for this misconception.

    First, many believe rising testosterone levels during puberty cause prostate growth. When youre born, your prostate gland is quite small and remains that way until puberty. At this point, the gland grows quite quickly. Then, growth slows down for a couple of decades.

    Another reason some believe that testosterone affects prostate enlargement is because of a study from the 1940s by a man named Charles Huggins. In his studies, he looked at the effect of castration in relation to prostate cancer. He found a relationship between prostate cancer growth and testosterone.

    However, there are a few important things to note. First, while testosterone can cause the prostate to grow during puberty, enlarged prostate in young men with peak testosterone levels is pretty rare. Instead, the risks for BPH go up with age. Age is also a risk factor for low testosterone.

    In addition, the Huggins studies are quite old and looked at prostate cancer, not normal prostate tissue, which is what causes an enlarged prostate. Therefore, these studies may not be particularly helpful when it comes to looking at BPH.

    Several modern studies have found that testosterone doesnt cause or worsen an enlarged prostate and, in some cases, may even help reduce symptoms.

    Bph Medications And Sexual Side Effects

    Why Does Prostate Cancer Surgery Result In Erectile Dysfunction?

    Some drugs used to treat BPH can cause difficulty in maintaining an erection. Men who take alpha-blockers such as doxazosin and terazosin may experience decreased ejaculation. This is because alpha-blockers relax the bladder and prostate muscle cells.

    Alpha reductase inhibitors can also cause ED. Additionally, reduced sex drive is a possible side effect of the alpha reductase inhibitors dutasteride and finasteride.

    Approximately 3 percent of men taking dutasteride reported experiencing a decreased libido in the first six months. About 6.4 percent of those taking finasteride experienced this within the first year. Roughly 4.5 percent of men taking dutasteride-tamsulosin reported decreased libido in the first six months.

    Men who take these medications may also experience lower sperm count, decreased sperm volume, and lower sperm movement. Adverse events typically decrease with continued use.

    Medications that treat erectile dysfunction may help improve BPH. The ED drugs below have all been shown to reduce BPH symptoms:

    • sildenafil
    • tadalafil

    However, they arent currently approved to treat BPH.

    These medications inhibit a protein that breaks down a chemical called cyclic guanosine monophosphate , which increases blood flow to the penis. By inhibiting the protein that breaks down cGMP, blood flow to the penis can be increased.

    One comparing tadalafil and a placebo showed that men who took 5 milligrams of tadalafil daily had significant improvement in both BPH and ED symptoms.

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    What Is Prostatitis

    Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate which can often be as painful as it sounds. You may not hear about it a lot, but this condition is the most common urinary tract problemfor men younger than fifty. It is also the third most common urinary tract condition for men above fifty.

    There are four types of prostatitis:

    • Acute bacterial prostatitis: a bacterial infection of the prostate which lasts a short time.
    • Chronic bacterial prostatitis: a recurrent infection of the prostate that goes on for a long time.
    • Chronic pelvic pain syndrome/chronic prostatitis: pain in the lower back and pelvic area that may be caused by an infection, though not from bacteria. It may also be due to inflammation from other causes.
    • Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis: inflamed prostate with no symptoms.

    How To Prevent Bph

    The role your hormones play in BPH depends mainly on genetics. Of course, you cant stop the aging process, which ultimately causes an enlarged prostate.

    It might seem like theres no way to avert the onset of this condition, but you might be able to postpone it or at least reduce the symptoms if you follow these lifestyle suggestions.

    • Maintain a healthy weight
    • Limit caffeine intake
    • Limit alcohol consumption

    When you live a healthy lifestyle, it notably affects your hormone production and balance in positive ways, making it a critical factor in prostate health and offsetting BPH.

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    Increased Adrenergic Response May Cause Ed And Luts/bph

    Both urinary function and erection can be affected by changes in the smooth muscle tonus caused by increased adrenergic response. Unilateral sympathectomy in rats led to homolateral increase in prostate . Transgenic rats that are spontaneously hypertensive due to greater adrenergic tonus presented urodynamic characteristics similar to those of males with LUTS . Furthermore, the rats presented a deficient erectile response to electrical stimulus of the cavernous nerve .

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    What Causes An Enlarged Prostate And Is It Preventable

    7 Surprising Enlarged Prostate Facts

    If youre a man dealing with prostate problems, youve probably wondered what causes an enlarged prostate aside from the age factor. What exactly is going on down there?

    The walnut-shaped prostate gland is a vital part of the male reproductive system, generating the fluids necessary for semen production. It sits right below the bladder and surrounds the urethra, which means it can directly affect the urinary tract.

    If you live long enough, its nearly inevitable that youll develop an enlarged prostate, also known as BPH . About 30% of men over 50 will develop the condition, and 90% will develop it by age 85.

    But what causes this condition, and is prevention possible?

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    Why Erectile Dysfunction May Result From Prostate Disease

    In the past, it was thought that most cases of erectile dysfunction were psychological in origin, the result of such demons as performance anxiety or more generalized stress. While these factors can cause erectile dysfunction, doctors now think that 70% of the time the problem can be traced to a physical condition that restricts blood flow, hampers nerve functioning, or both. Such conditions include diabetes, kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis, vascular disease, and alcoholism.

    However, some types of prostate disease and treatments may also be responsible.

    What Is Bph And Its Effects

    Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia happens in many men as they get older. The enlarged prostate for these men can cause problems while urinating. Some of the specific issues with urinating include:

    • Constant urge to urinate
    • Difficulty beginning or stopping urination
    • Weak urine stream
    • Feeling like your bladder is not empty
    • Higher frequency of urinating

    If trouble urinating were a one-time thing, it would be bad enough, but as an on-going condition, BPH can impact the quality of a mans life.

    Issues with your prostate can also lead to sexual problems. Some sexual problems of men with BPH include:

    • ED
    • Reduced sexual satisfaction

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    Bph And Sexual Dysfunction Explained

    Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a condition in which the prostate becomes so enlarged that it begins to put pressure on the urethra. When this happens, the patient begins to experience lower urinary tract symptoms , including frequent urination, urgency, incontinence, nocturia and weak urine flow. For some men, the condition worsens, causing more severe symptoms that include kidney or bladder problems and urinary retention .

    Sexual dysfunction refers to persistent and recurring problems with experiencing satisfaction from sexual activity. Problems can include a decrease in sexual pleasure, a reduced sex drive and difficulty in getting or maintaining an erection .

    What Drugs Interact With Cialis

    #13 Did hydrogen Cure ed erectile dysfunction, frequent urination, and enlarged prostate?

    Do not take Cialis if you:

    • take any medicines called “nitrates”.
    • use recreational drugs called “poppers” like amyl nitrite and butyl nitrite.
    • take any medicines called guanylate cyclase stimulators, such as riociguat.
    • are allergic to Cialis or Adcirca, or any of its ingredients.

    Call your healthcare provider or get help right away if you have any of the symptoms of an allergic reaction listed above.

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    How Prostatitis And Other Prostate Problems Can Ruin Your Sex Life

    4 min Read Time

    You hear a lot about sex when it goes right you hear practically nothing about sex when it goes wrong.

    For men struggling with prostatitis a condition where the prostate becomes inflamed or irritated or other prostate problems, the implications for your sex life can be startling.

    How Common Is Prostatitis?It’s the most common urinary tract condition for men under 50. 2 million US men visit healthcare providers about prostatitis every year.

    The prostate gland helps sperm travel during ejaculation and is part of the male reproductive system, explains the National Library of Medicine .

    Common prostate problems, according to the National Institute on Aging, include:

    • Acute bacterial prostatitis: Starts with a bacterial infection in the prostate
    • Chronic bacterial prostatitis: A recurring infection
    • Benign prostatic hyperplasia: Enlarged prostate but not cancerous
    • Prostate cancer

    When something goes wrong with the prostate, it can wreck your sex life. For example, chronic symptoms of prostatitis can lead to sexual dysfunction, including painful ejaculation or even a drop in libido, says the National Cancer Institute.

    Here are other ways prostatitis and other prostate problems can put a cramp in your sex life and what treatment options are available.

    What Are The Symptoms Of Bph

    The symptoms of BPH tend to be urinary in nature. If you are struggling going number one in the bathroom, you may want to get checked for BPH. Youll often see BPH referred to as LUTS, which stands for lower urinary tract symptoms.

    Symptoms can include:

    • Incomplete emptying of bladder
    • Needing to go excessively at night

    Its interesting to note that there may be a correlation between the severity of BPH symptoms and the risk of other sexual dysfunctions. For example, men with severe trouble going to the bathroom often also find they have reduced sex drive, inability to keep an erection, and lowered sexual satisfaction.One review found that most men who sought treatment for either BPH or ED were actually diagnosed with both conditions.

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    The Elephant In The Room

    Lets get to the point. Yes, BPH can affect your sex life.

    It can cause a reduced sexual drive, there can be a reduction in sexual satisfaction, and thirdly, it can cause ED or erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to attain and maintain an erection for intercourse at least 25% of the time.

    Some drugs used to treat BPH can lead to ED. They can also reduce sperm count, lower sperm movement and sperm volume.

    At the same time, certain ED treatments like Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra can improve BPH and reduce those urinary symptoms.

    Yes, its complicated.

    To continue, specifically, Proscar, an anti-testosterone drug prescribed for BPH has been linked to ED in 3.7% of men using it, with 3.3% having diminished libido, whereas alpha-blockers like Flomax can improve the symptoms of BPH with a lower risk of sexual side effects.

    Providing Your Medical History

    Can an enlarged prostate cause ED? â ED Med Reviews

    At first, the doctor will probably ask you about your medical history. Do you have any chronic illnesses? What illnesses and operations have you had in the past? What medications are you taking, if any? Your doctor is also likely to ask about your psychological well-being and lifestyle: Do you suffer from depression? Are you under a lot of stress? Do you drink alcohol? Smoke? Use illegal drugs? Have you felt a loss of affection for your partner? Have you recently grown interested in a new partner?

    As part of this health history, be prepared to tell your doctor specific details about the symptoms that brought you to the office and when they began. Your doctor might want to know how often you had sex before the problem started and if there have been weeks or months in the past when youve had erectile dysfunction. Your doctor may conduct a written or verbal screening test.

    If the cause is clear a recent operation for prostate cancer, for example the conversation may move directly to your treatment options. Otherwise, you may need to answer more questions to help the doctor narrow down the possible causes and avoid unnecessary testing.

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