Caring For Your Incision
The incision runs from above the base of the pubic area to below the navel. It is important to keep it clean and dry. Showering once a day should be sufficient. If you notice extreme or increasing tenderness, progressive swelling, more than a small amount of drainage or any pus or redness, notify your doctor right away.
How Fast Will I Become Totally Continent After Prostate Surgery
During surgery for prostate cancer, the urethra is also affected and, depending on the experience of the surgeon, more or less of the continence function will be preserved. Due to the high precision of robotic surgery, the patient will have a catheter for roughly one week and the trauma to the urinary function will be minimum.
The discomfort that patients feel during this time is minimum, but you should expect the removal to make you feel uneasy. The catheter will be removed during a visit to your doctor, so do not try to do this at home, as it could cause infections. The degree of which the urinary function will be affected depends on how normal the function was before surgery, age and weight.
It is worth noting that most men will experience some degree of incontinence after prostate surgery, but control can be regained within several weeks or months to a year.
When Is It Too Soon To Have Sex After Turp Operation What Might Happen
I’m 62
I had a rough start to my recovery in hospital. I couldn’t empty my bladder.
They re-cathaterised me 3 times in 3 days. 5 days later The cathater came out
It’s 2 weeks since the op. I now pee ‘like a horse’ with some pain.
I was given few guidelines on what I could do or not do after the op.
It’s taken a lot out of me. I’m told to avoid heavy lifting. My boss told me to have a week off work .
Driving is exhausting.
I discovered one morning I could still get an erection ; I experimented with masturbation.
I achieved orgasm and as warned – no ejaculate. It didn’t feel as pleasurable as before ;
Masturbating didn’t hurt.
Given the above, what damage could I do to myself If I were to make love with my wife.
What do you think?
How long after your TURP did you have sex?
What happened? Did it hurt?
1 like, 10 replies
Recommended Reading: Can Bph Cause Constipation
Ask Your Doctor About Solutions
Patients should not be shy about discussing intimacy issues;with their doctor. He or she may be able to prescribe medications to help. Certain medicationssuch as sildenafil , tadalafil or vardenafil are typically tried first. But these drugs may not help men achieve an erection if the nerves responsible are not healthy. In fact, the medications only work for a small percentage of men in the first few months after surgery, according to a 2017 study published in the International Journal of Sexual Health.
Besides oral medications for erectile dysfunction, there are other options available to men with ED after prostate cancer treatment, says Dr. Shelfo. These include penile injection therapy, which involves injecting a small amount of medication directly into the base of the penis. That has helped many men achieve erections. Another option is an intraurethral suppository of medication, an external vacuum erection device, or surgery may be performed to implant a penile prosthesis.
While regaining erectile function is not possible for all men treated for prostate cancer, it is important to remember that an erection is just one aspect of a satisfying sex life.;Intimacy;is another major component, one that may become more important as sexual relationships become more difficult after cancer treatment.
The Prostate Gland And Prostate Cancer
The prostate gland is a male reproductive organ that sits around the urethra, the outlet tube for urine, just below the bladder. The glands surface is usually smooth and regular. The prostate is about the size of a walnut.
The prostate gland releases a clear fluid into the urethra that represents up to a third of the semen during ejaculation. One of the functions of the fluid is to carry the sperm and help sperm movement.
The prostate also helps the drive of semen during ejaculation.
Also Check: Does An Enlarged Prostate Affect A Man Sexually
Questions To Ask Your Doctor Or Nurse
- How could my prostate cancer treatment affect my sex life?
- How soon after treatment can I masturbate or have sex?
- Which treatments for erection problems would be best for me? Can I get them on the NHS?
- Is there anything I can do to prepare myself before I start my prostate cancer treatment?
- What happens if the treatment doesn’t work? Are there others I could try?
- What other support is available to me?
- Can my partner also get support?
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.
Don’t Miss: Prostate Cancer Shortness Of Breath
Great Sex And Orgasms After Prostate Cancer
Meet Paul and Ashley. Paul and Ashley have an active sex life. They are taking the time to get to know each others bodies and pleasures as well as their own. They are trying new ways of being intimate and using toys. They are having fun and growing closer as a couple.
Paul and Ashley are not a new couple; they have been married for 35 years. Paul was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year and had a radical prostatectomy. Even though the surgeon is very skilled and Paul was in great health going into the surgery, he still wound up with some dysfunction after surgery. Paul and his partner are taking this challenge as a reminder to reevaluate their sexuality. Sexual desires and preferences change over time normally and even more so after an event like prostate surgery. After 35 years of doing the same things, it is difficult to make a change. Paul and Ashley are grieving the loss of spontaneous sex and welcoming Viagra and vibrators into their sex life.
Paul is not alone. Almost 60% of men who have prostate surgery have erectile dysfunction 18 months later.1 These men are often surprised by their impairments, uncertain about what to expect during recovery/rehabilitation, and not sure what to do to help themselves. As a pelvic floor physical therapist, I see many men after prostatectomy, and I may be the only one to ask them about their sex life and make suggestions and referrals. ;.
How prostatectomy affects desire, erection, orgasm, and ejaculation
Bph Medications And Sexual Side Effects
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.
Read Also: What Happens To The Prostate Later In Life
How To Get Started
You’ve had a period of time without sex and now feel ready to rekindle your sex life, but how do you get started? Set the mood- what sparked romance for you and your partner before cancer? Music, a romantic meal or an evening out? Relax and don’t pressure yourselves to have sex the first go at it. Take your time, enjoy each other, and most of all, communicate.
How Will Sex After Prostate Cancer Be Different
One of the treatments of prostate cancer is to remove a portion of the prostate or the totality of the gland before cancer spreads beyond it You may have heard that the tumor is inside the capsule, but moving fast.
The procedure is known as radical prostatectomy and involves incisions, either above the perineum or on the lower abdomen.
Newer surgeries are sometimes robot-assisted, and we also have laparoscopic prostatectomies that do not require a large incision.
The end result is the removal of a portion or the totality of the prostate, and certain surgical approaches may be associated with a lower risk of nerve damage than others. Youll see this referred to as nerve-sparing prostatectomies throughout this guide.
As soon as a man is informed that he will need to go through a Radical Prostatectomy, the likelihood is that one of the very first questions will be about the effect that it will have on their sex life. In a lot of mens minds, the surgery is thought of like its castration.
However, now that there are multiple types of nerve-sparing prostate surgery, many men have found they can maintain sexual activity after surgery.
Likewise, there are plenty of sexual activities open to those who do find they still have the desire, even with some physical changes. We want to help you understand the changes that men can experience after prostate surgery, whether that is physical or mental.
For more information on prostate surgery, click here.
Recommended Reading: Prostatitis Symptoms Mayo
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.
Things You Should Expect After Prostate Surgery
Prostate removal is a major type of surgery and requires time for the body to recover. Even though robotic prostatectomy using the Da Vinci robot has less severe effects on the body and the patient can leave the hospital the same day, men should expect some changes in order to know how to deal with them. The surgery is performed through small incisions that are barely sensitive at the incision sites and the scar tissue is almost unnoticeable. Typically, the recovery is fast, most men are able to go home the next day and resume driving and working in two to three weeks after the surgery.
In the immediate hours after surgery:
Don’t Miss: How To Massage A Man’s Prostate
Five Potential Sexual Side Effects Of Radical Prostatectomy
Having your prostate removed is a highly effective means of curing prostate cancer. Unfortunately, because of the prostates precarious location – in the midst of the busy urinary and genital tracts, connected to the bladder on one end, the urethra on the other end, touching on the rectum, and nestled behind the pubic bone in a well-protected nook of the body – prostate removal can cause some unwanted sexual side effects.
Managing Sexual Dysfunction After Surgery
Any surgery, whether minor or major, is typically accompanied by adverse effects. If the side effects affect your sexual functioning, that can give rise to another set of problems like psychological distress.
Thats especially true if the surgery involves your reproductive organs. Youll most likely feel anxious about how your sexual function and your fertility will be affected. If youve got one of your balls removed, you may become worried about the lop-sided appearance of your scrotum. Or, your reduced sex drive can cause problems in your relationship.
Discussing these issues with both your doctor and your partner may be able to help you handle your sexual problems better. And your doctor can guide you in managing your sexual dysfunction after your surgery.
You should also consider taking male sex enhancement supplements to help improve your sexual function. For instance, you can try all-natural ones;which are known as effective and safe to use.
This contains natural ingredients that can help improve your sexual functions. For instance, if youre suffering from a reduced libido caused by low testosterone levels, this is made with ingredients that help promote testosterone production and enhance your libido.
FTC Disclosure
Male Ultracore
Also Check: What Happens To The Prostate Later In Life
When Can I Return To Sexual Activity
Let the surgery heal for three to four weeks before attempting anything. After one month after the robotic prostatectomy, it is recommended that you resume sexual activity. Stimulation of the nerves is thought to be a first step on the journey back to potency. Remember that you can still experience the pleasures of orgasm and other sensual stimulations without full erections. The average time to recovery for erections adequate for intercourse is 6-12 months, but in some men it is even longer. You should also be performing kegel exercises regularly to help your return to potency.
What Concerns Could Arise
Some men experience a loss of desire for sex, an inability to achieve or maintain an erection, inability to reach orgasm or have a change in orgasm , experience pain during sex, or just do not find sex pleasurable. Sexuality is an important factor in their quality of life for many men. Know that these concerns are common and your healthcare team can provide guidance. Write down your questions and concerns so you don’t forget to ask about them. If your provider cannot help, ask them to recommend someone who can.
Also Check: How To Pleasure A Woman After Prostate Surgery
Sexual Performance After Prostate Cancer And Getting Back To Enjoyable Sex After Prostate Surgery Is Possible Heres How:
1. Masturbate solo sex is a great way to help you relax, build confidence, and find out how your body will respond after surgery.
2. Kegel exercises mastering these pelvic floor exercises before surgery can actually improve your orgasm after surgery. They may even help you achieve multiple orgasms. Bonus they help strengthen urinary control, too.
3. Involve your partner remember that sex is best as a team sport so the sooner you work together, the better. Use physical and emotional intimacy to build up to penetration.
4. Stay ahead of Erectile Dysfunction oral medication for ED is a great way to speed sexual recovery. Using prescriptions such as Viagra or Cialis, even for a short time, can give you the confidence and sexual potency you need.
5. Have sex the more sex you have, the more sex youll have. Meaning, penile rehabilitation through touching, intimacy, and erection practice will actually get you back in the game faster.
How Will Prostate Surgery Affect My Sex Life
Experienced robotic surgeons like Dr. David Samadi dont open the endopelvic fascia during surgery, which spares the rick of damage to nerve bundles that control sexual function. The recovery of the function, however, is not immediate and you should not feel discouraged if weeks or even a few months after surgery you experience erectile dysfunction. It is not an indication of long-term damage.
One major change that you will notice in your sex life is the absence of sperm. Having no prostate, the body will not produce semen during the orgasm.; The sperm cells will be simply reabsorbed by the body them. This is not harmful and you shouldnt be worried about it. Plenty of men deal with the problem with the help of medication that improves erectile dysfunction.
Recommended Reading: Does Cialis Shrink An Enlarged Prostate
Erection Restoration After Prostate Cancer Therapy
Whether youve had surgery, radiation or chemotherapy to treat prostate cancer, chances are, you have suffered some changes in sexual function. After a radical prostatectomy, men may have nerve and blood vessel alterations to their erections that make it more difficult to achieve and maintain erections. Additionally, because the prostate gland and seminal vesicles make the majority of semen fluid, men after prostatectomy will no longer ejaculate. They can still have the pleasurable sensation of orgasm, just no ejaculate fluid. Ejaculate fluid also greatly diminishes after radiation therapy. Erections tend to lessen after radiation as well although it is often a more gradual decline.