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.
What Changes In My Urinary Control Can I Expect After Prostate Surgery
Individual changes after surgery cannot always be predicted, but there are many tools to help us identify those at risk for urinary control issues after surgery. Before surgery is performed, testing may be needed to determine the functional and structural characteristics of the urinary tract. This information helps us identify men at risk for postoperative urinary control issues.
Why Do Men Have Problems With This
It might seem counter-productive that men may have issues controlling their urination after prostate surgery, especially since many men undergo surgery to treat their urinary symptoms to begin with. The underlying causes of these symptoms arent limited to the prostate itself; often other structures such as the bladder or urethra can undergo changes after surgery.
For example, a man may undergo surgery to reduce obstruction from his prostate gland so that he may more easily pass urine. Before surgery, his bladder must push harder than usual to pass urine beyond his prostate gland. When this obstruction is surgically removed, however, the bladder must adjust to changes caused by surgery. An unusual urge to urinate with or without leakage may occur during this recovery.
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Can I Do Or Take Anything To Speed Up Nerve Regeneration
I recommend to my patients that they stimulate themselves 2-3 times a week and take a Viagra tablet at least once a week as well. This encourages nerve regeneration and increases blood flow to the penis. There are three tablets in the same family as Viagra that you can take: Cialis , Levitra and Viagra itself . There is evidence that taking one of these tablets regularly after prostate surgery speeds recovery of potency. All three work by increasing blood flow to the penis, and while they wont give you an erection on their own, they make it easier to get one with stimulation.
Not all patients want to take a tablet for potency and there is no compulsion to do so. Please do be aware that there are common side-effects associated with this increased blood flow, including headaches, facial flushing and indigestion.
Tips For Talking With Your Partner
Feeling less of a desire to have sex or having trouble getting an erection may affect your relationship. Try to be as open with your partner as you can. Here are some tips:
- Bring your partner with you to doctors visits. Being part of the conversation may help them understand what youre experiencing.
- Listen to your partners concerns, too. Remember that this issue affects both of you.
- See a therapist or a sex therapist to help you work out any issues that are affecting your sex life.
- If sex is a problem right now, its possible to fulfill each other sexually in other ways. Cuddling, kissing, and caressing can also be pleasurable.
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How Radical Prostatectomy Affects Orgasm
The first two parts of orgasm are affected by radical prostatectomy, explains Dr. Kacker. Removal of the seminal vesicles and prostate gland during the operation means no fluid can come in from the testicles or the prostate. With the gland or the vesicles gone, theres no fluid buildup in the urethra and the sense of fullness and inevitability, which may have been a familiar part of your orgasm prior to surgery, is now missing.
And theres no ejaculate after radical prostatectomy. Some men also report that the operation affects their pelvic floor and its contractions.
But the third part of orgasm occurs in the brain and can be just as intense as before surgery.
How To Locate Your Prostate
This article was medically reviewed by Erik Kramer, DO, MPH. Dr. Erik Kramer is a Primary Care Physician at the University of Colorado, specializing in internal medicine, diabetes, and weight management. He received his Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine from the Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2012. Dr. Kramer is a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine and is board certified.There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 140,179 times.
The prostate is a walnut-sized organ in males that plays a major role in the production of semen. The easiest way to access the prostate is by way of an index finger carefully inserted into the rectum. The processes for accessing the prostate as part of a medical exam or for sexual pleasure are the same, and the same precautions should be taken. You should also keep an eye out for signs of potential prostate problems and contact your doctor as needed.
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Help Seeking For Erectile Dysfunction
Asking for help in sexual matters is not easy for either the person who asks or for the person from whom help is sought. Most people consider sexual activity a private matter and feel awkward when discussing sexual difficulties, even within the couple. In a providerpatient relationship, the dynamics of help seeking can be burdensome, if one or both members of the partnership feel uncomfortable broaching the subject. A study by Matthews Nichols and Barret gives insight into the way in which physicians, while seeing responsiveness to their patients’ questions about sexual problems as a part of their role, feel unprepared in terms of knowledge base and comfort with the subject. As an echo of the physicians’ feelings of inadequacy, a study by Marwick highlights patients’ low expectations of their providers to whom they turn for help with sexual concerns.
Characteristics of men who seek help for erectile dysfunction
Approximately 59% of men with erectile dysfunction due to prostate cancer treatment seek medical help. Men are more likely to seek erectogenic treatments after prostatectomy than after radiation therapy, but few men try treatments and tend to discontinue them early.
It Wont Be The Same But There’s Reason To Be Optimistic
Once a man gets a diagnosis of prostate cancer and has to have surgery to address it, his thoughts will turn to the obviouswhat can I expect for my sex life after prostate surgery?
The good news is that if a man does elect to have prostate surgery, his chance of returning to an enjoyable sex life is very good. The first thing to know is that sexual recovery does take time so having plenty of persistence and patience goes a long way. It can also help a man to approach sex after prostate cancer treatment by going into it without any expectations, being open to experimenting, and discussing with his physician what works and what doesnt.
Knowing what to expect by talking with your physician can optimize your recovery and help you return to a satisfying, normal sex life once again. Heres what you need to know:
Impotence;is likely.;Most likely there will initially be some experience with erectile dysfunction, but for most men its temporary. While a man is recovering, he should be able to rely on medications such as Viagra or Cialis until normal sexual functioning returns.
Orgasm might not be the same.;A man should be able to achieve an orgasm after prostate surgery, but it may be different. It is possible for a man to achieve an orgasm without an erection and this should be thoroughly understood by any man after the surgery is done.
There are several things a man can do to help himself recuperate fully so that he can get back to a normal sex life:
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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.
Coping With Infertility After Prostate Surgery
The prostate is one of the only organs in a males body that never stops growing. This growth is slow and continual throughout your life and many doctors dont fully understand why it happens. In some instances, the prostate grows larger than your body can accommodate, and the result is benign prostatic hyperplasia or enlarged prostate. While this isnt life threatening, it can lead to an array of uncomfortable symptoms. There are treatment options for benign prostatic hyperplasia, with the most invasive being surgery. Some men will also develop prostate cancer during their lives. While prostate cancer has one of the highest curability rates, it needs to be diagnosed early so that surgery can eradicate the cancer completely. Regardless of why you need prostate surgery, certain instances can lead to problems such as infertility. In this article, well explore everything you need to know about the prostate and how to cope with infertility after prostate surgery.
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How Will Treatment Affect My Ability To Orgasm Or My Fertility
Surgery for prostate cancer can affect both your orgasms and your ability to have children. The prostate gland normally adds a fluid called semen to sperm to nourish and protect it. Youll no longer make semen after surgery, which means your orgasms will be dry. Radiation therapy can also reduce the amount of fluid you ejaculate. Without semen, you wont be able to father children. If youre concerned about fertility, you can bank your sperm before your surgery.
After surgery, orgasms will also feel different. You wont have that normal buildup of sensation before you have an orgasm. Youll still be able to feel pleasure, though.
Men’s Psychological And Culturally Diverse Adaptation To The Sexual Side Effects Of Prostate Cancer Treatment
Psychological effects.
The quality of life research in prostate cancer emphasizes the importance of sexual functioning as a part of overall well being., After prostate cancer treatment, beyond the loss of erections, men’s responsiveness to visual, desire-inducing stimuli can diminish,, and their libido can decrease. All men continue to have orgasms , but some report absent, less intense or even painful orgasms. Some men report feeling sad and tearful about the loss of erectile functioning. Their self-regard is diminished and they experience the changes in sexuality as a loss of quality of life.,
Several qualitative studies described patient reports of loss of manhood and loss of familiar self that can come with the sexual side effects of prostate cancer treatment., Men also experienced loss of the capacity to respond to sexual cues, sexual fantasies, and spoke with nostalgia about past sexuality and loss of self-worth. Some men avoided sexual encounters for fear of failure or embarrassment. For others, the loss of erections was synonymous with the loss of the meaning of life. Men in these studies did not confide their emotional pain, even when family support was available, although some confided in other men with prostate cancer. Instead, men coped by maintaining their competent roles, for example, being an engineer.
Cultural diversity and adaptation
The impact of prostate cancer on couples’ relationships
Effects on partners and relationships
Couples’ sexuality
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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 :
What Is A Radical Prostatectomy
Radical prostatectomy is most often done to treat localized prostate cancer. Less often, a simple prostatectomy is done to relieve symptoms associated with BPH . Radical prostatectomy involves removing the entire prostate as well as some of the surrounding tissue, including nerves and lymph nodes.
One of the side effects of prostate surgery is erectile dysfunction. In fact, several studies cite an 85% occurrence rate, which means about up to 9 out of 10 men who undergo this procedure end up with some degree of impotence. Penile rehabilitation refers to therapies that can help preserve penile tissue and restore erectile function in men who have undergone prostate removal.
A vacuum erection device or penis pump is an effective intervention to improve penis health in men with impaired erectile function after surgery. What are the benefits of using a penis pump before and after prostate surgery? Lets find out.
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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.
Orgasm After Prostatectomy Is It Possible
You can expect to enjoy sex and orgasm after prostate surgery.
Many men are surprised to find that they even experience pleasurable orgasm without an erection. Keep in mind that your sexual pleasure does not depend on penetration.
Dr. David Samadi says restoring an enjoyable sex life after prostate cancer surgery is in part dependent on prostate cancer treatment and choice.When men and their partners know what to expect, they can accelerate recovery, experiment, and work together. Sex-related activities should be resumed as soon as you are ready but keep in mind some changes are temporary, and some might be permanent, but the bottom line is that all of the problems can be overcome.
Patients that recover from robotic prostatectomy can expect one significant change regarding orgasm, the orgasm without ejaculation. It will feel different but the pleasure part will still be there.
Note that the male orgasm has 3 main components:
Even though the first 2 parts of the orgasm are affected by the radical prostatectomy, the third one that involves brain stimulation and generates the sensation of pleasure still remains.
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Changes To Orgasm And Ejaculation
After prostate cancer treatment you will still have feeling in your penis and you should still be able to have an orgasm, but this may feel different from before. Some men lose the ability to orgasm, especially if they’re on hormone therapy.
If you’ve had;radical prostatectomy, you will no longer ejaculate when you orgasm. This is because the prostate and seminal vesicles, which make some of the fluid in semen, are both removed during the operation. Instead you may have a dry orgasm – where you feel the sensation of orgasm but don’t ejaculate. Occasionally, you might release a small amount of liquid from the tip of your penis during orgasm, which may be fluid from glands lining the urethra.
If you’ve had;radiotherapy,;brachytherapy,;high intensity focused ultrasound; or;hormone therapy, you may produce less semen during and after treatment. With radiotherapy, brachytherapy and HIFU you may also notice a small amount of blood in the semen. This usually isn’t a problem but tell your doctor or nurse if this happens. Some men on hormone therapy say their orgasms feel less intense.
Some men leak urine when they orgasm, or feel pain. Others find they don’t last as long during sex and reach orgasm quite quickly.