Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the hallmark side effects of prostate surgery. However, depending on the type of surgery, some men might still regain the ability to produce spontaneous erections following a prostatectomy, while others aren’t as fortunate. Going through penis rehabilitation, which may involve taking ED drugs, lifestyle changes, or using medical devices, might help the latter.
The prospect of prostate surgery can be an uncomfortable or intimidating subject for many men, but if you’ve been told you need a prostatectomy, you might feel an extra tinge of discomfort. Prostatectomy involves the partial or complete removal of your prostate gland, and it could lead to complications with your sexual performance or enjoyment.
Most likely, you will also have several questions to ask your doctor before or after the procedure. One of the biggest questions is: will you still be able to produce erections and engage in sexual activity after prostatectomy?
What should I expect from getting a prostatectomy?
Before understanding the consequences of getting prostate surgery on your sex life, we need to first gain a better understanding of how the procedure functions.
Prostate surgery, or a prostatectomy, involves the removal of a portion or the entirety of the prostate gland.
Simple prostatectomy entails removing just the inner part of the prostate gland, and this procedure is often used to treat prostate enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia).
On the other hand, a radical prostatectomy means removing the whole prostate gland, typically used to treat prostate cancer in men.
Some degree of prostate surgery may be recommended if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Bladder problems (trouble with urinary retention)
- Increased incidence of urinary tract infections
- Bleeding from the prostate
- Prostate enlargement
- Bladder stones
- Problems with urine flow
- Kidney damage
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How does one recover from a prostatectomy?
Based on what kind of prostate surgery you plan to take, you’ll likely remain confined to the hospital for a few days to a week after the procedure. Most likely, you will have a catheter inserted in your bladder. Full recovery from prostate surgery takes around four to six weeks, and most men regain their normal urinary function after recovering.
Is it possible to have sex after a prostatectomy?
Absolutely. However, you might need to get used to some changes.
Like any other type of surgery, prostatectomies possess their own risks and complications, such as infection or blood clotting, among others.
However, the procedure can also lead to changes in your sex life, most commonly the development of erectile dysfunction, which prevents you from producing an erection firm enough to enjoy satisfying sex life.
Men with prostate cancer receiving a radical prostatectomy may lose the ability to produce semen due to the removal of the seminal vesicles that produce it. Men who undergo this kind of prostate surgery will still be able to orgasm, although without producing semen. This is known as a dry orgasm.
How does prostate surgery cause ED?
The most common side effect of prostate surgery is ED. As much as 85% of men who have undergone radical prostatectomy have experienced problems with achieving erections post-surgery.
Why? Since clusters of nerve bundles running along the side of the prostate that controls erection are crucial in producing erections, a surgeon that uses a nerve-sparing approach may avoid damaging these nerves. However, this approach is not an option for men with prostate cancer affecting the area close to these nerve bundles. Cutting all these nerves means you will no longer have the ability to obtain erections spontaneously. The good thing is that some men are still able to produce erections again with certain treatments, which we will discuss in the succeeding sections.
Now, if your nerve bundles are removed only from one side of the prostate, you might still be able to get erect, but less frequently than if all your nerve clusters were spared. Whether you regain the ability to manage an erection will depend on factors such as age and your erection frequency pre-surgery.
Every man who has undergone a prostatectomy will have a diminished ability to have normal erections, but the younger you are, the more likely you are to regain it. However, each person will respond differently to prostate surgery. Any recovery of function will most likely happen slowly, ranging from months to several years.
What is penis rehabilitation, and what ED treatments can I opt for?
Several treatment options might help you regain the ability to produce regular erections after getting a prostatectomy.
Your doctor might recommend you to get penis rehabilitation. Health professionals posit that the sooner you’re able to regain erections after surgery, the better chances you can manage ED over time. Penis rehabilitation is usually begun after the body has completely healed from surgery and can take as long as two years trying to regain regular erection frequency to keep penile tissue healthy.
Penis rehabilitation’s goal is to maintain erectile performance as much as possible using medicines or devices. Much of the success of penis rehabilitation depends largely on the nerves that were spared or removed.
Can I take ED drugs after undergoing prostate surgery?
Some individuals have been prescribed ED drugs such as PDE5 inhibitors like sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil (Levitra), or avanafil (Stendra). Taking such ED drugs may help them achieve firmer or more frequent erections, especially when continued up to 18 months after the procedure. However, they don’t often work as effectively in the first several months after prostate surgery.
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What medical devices can I use to regain erectile function after a prostatectomy?
Penis pumps may help restore erection function in some cases. This treatment involves using a vacuum pump to supply blood into the penis. Since these devices help produce erections nerve damage notwithstanding, they can help men regain a degree of erectile function.
What lifestyle changes can I make to manage post-surgery ED?
Other lifestyle changes such as exercise, refraining from alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drug use, and a healthy diet can improve ED symptoms and enhance your overall health.
Chronic health issues such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and mental issues can all contribute to ED, so consulting a healthcare professional trained to manage such problems can only be a good thing.
