Sex After Prostate Cancer

It's completely okay to talk about these changes and ask for help. There are professionals trained to help with sexual problems, and they can guide you through different treatment options and help you navigate relationship changes.

Whether you'll be able to have sex or masturbate after treatment depends on several factors, including the type of treatment you received, how you're feeling, and any pre-existing sexual problems. Some men recover over time, some benefit from treatments for erections, and for others, achieving erections might be difficult even with medical help.

Treatment-Specific Considerations:

• Surgery (Prostatectomy): Nerves essential for erections run close to the prostate. While surgeons try to protect them, ED is a major potential side effect. Techniques like nerve-sparing prostatectomy and biopsies can help reduce this risk. Cryotherapy, a less invasive freezing method, also carries a risk of nerve damage.
• Radiation Therapy: This can harm healthy surrounding tissue and sexual organs, potentially leading to nerve damage and ED. A more targeted type called brachytherapy, which involves implanting radioactive seeds, might have a lower risk, but it's typically for early-stage cancer.
• Hormone Therapy: By blocking or reducing male hormones, this treatment can lead to erection problems, loss of libido, and reduced fertility.

Even if sexual function changes, there are ways to find pleasure and intimacy again.

• Manage Expectations and Explore Intimacy: Talk openly with your partner about your expectations and concerns. You might discover new ways to be intimate, like massage, different types of touching, using vibrators, or watching videos. Your partner might also be happy with non-sexual intimacy or exploring new ways of being close.
• Try New Techniques: If erections are difficult, a partner who usually is insertive might consider being receptive during anal penetration. If you usually receive penetration and had a prostatectomy, you might find sensations different, as the prostate contributes to sensation.
• Make Time for Intimacy: It might take more physical and mental stimulation to achieve and maintain an erection, so set aside dedicated time for physical closeness.
• Penile Rehabilitation: There are various treatments available to help with erections:
  • Oral medications like Viagra or Cialis.
  • Creams or other drugs in injection or pellet form.
  • Vacuum pumps.
  • Inflatable implants if other treatments aren't effective.
• Stay Healthy: Regular exercise can boost your sex life and lower the risk of ED. Studies show that men with prostate cancer who exercise are more likely to return to an active sex life.

Remember, there's no single "right" way to deal with changes to your sex life. The most important thing is to find what works for you and to not hesitate to ask for support. This information is also helpful for partners of men with prostate cancer.