Sex after prostate surgery is an important concern for most men. The total removal of the cancerous tissues is the primary goal, but the quality of life after prostate surgery is also important. Worrying about ED makes men be nervous and anxious when thinking about undergoing radical prostatectomy. Restoring the sexual function after prostate surgery is essential to enjoying life to the fullest!
However, whilst most patients focus on erectile dysfunction, orgasm is somehow under-considered. But is it possible to achieve orgasm after prostatectomy? Erections and orgasm are equally important for a healthy sex life.
First of all, bear in mind that the radical prostatectomy is the surgery performed to remove the prostate gland and sourrounding affected tissue. This is the most recommended treatment for prostate cancer. However, many men wonder if they would be able to have sex after prostate surgery as they did before.
Can you have sex after prostate removal?
The good news is that sex after prostate removal is very possible and enjoyable for most men. This is due to the newest robotic technologies that are nerve-sparing and preserve the sexual function.
Dr. Samadi’s robotic prostate surgery, SMART Surgery, was explicitly designed to spare the tiny nerve bundles surrounding the prostate in order to preserve sexual potency.
Men who undergo Dr. Samadi’s robotic prostate surgery have a reasonable chance of regaining complete erectile function for sex after prostate surgery.
Even though ejaculation will cease, you will still be able to enjoy sex after prostate surgery, as it is further explained.
So, prostate surgery does affect you sexually, but not in the ways you are thinking of.
Sex after prostate surgery
When first diagnosed with prostate cancer, it’s common for men to wonder what the future will hold. Certainly, a prostate cancer cure is a top priority, but then what?
Dr. David Samadi understands that men want to know:
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Will I have sex after prostate cancer?
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How will sex after prostate cancer be different?
For many men, prostate cancer treatment choice determines these answers.
If you select robotic prostate surgery your chances of enjoying sex after prostate surgery are very high. Robotic prostatectomy is a minimally invasive prostate removal. It is considered one of the best treatment options for prostate cancer due to its success rate and fast recovery rate.
The da Vinci robotic prostate cancer surgery system enables the surgeon to make precise movements. This ensures cancer-removal efficiency and sparing of the nerves and muscles that are responsible for the sexual function.
However, it is absolutely critical to choose a robotic surgeon with a high case volume and extensive prostate surgery experience. The robot does not perform the surgery and technology is no guarantee of success. Enjoying sex after prostate surgery is only possible if the procedure was performed by an experienced, highly-trained robotic surgeon.
Dr. Samadi explains how the preservation of sexual function is possible:
“If my only responsibility was to remove the cancerous prostate, my job would be much easier,” he acknowledges, “But patients deserve much more than that. It was paramount that I find a way to remove the prostate gland without damaging functions critical to a comfortable and enjoyable life after recovery.”
Sex after prostate surgery – What to Expect
Knowing what to expect is a large part of optimizing your sexual recovery from prostate surgery. Dr. Samadi works very closely with men and their partners before and after surgery to help them understand what’s likely to occur.
Impotence and erectile dysfunction (ED) after prostate surgery
Expect some ED, but know that for most men it is temporary. Usually, most men will experience erectile dysfunction for several months to a year. Dr. David Samadi’s SMART surgery technique ensures minimal side effects during a short recovery period.
Does Viagra and Cialis work after prostate removal?
During recovery, medications like Viagra and Cialis will help. Viagra does work after prostate removal as much as Cialis does and can restore impotence. This medication also contributes to a more pleasurable sex life.
Viagra can restore impotence and contributes to a more pleasurable sex life.
A study published in the Journal of Urology reported that 53% from a total of 80 men who underwent radical prostatectomy had their erection function restored after taking Viagra.
But is Viagra an addictive drug?
Many men experienced a high rate of improvement in their sexual performance due to medications such as Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra. If you have been wondering whether these medications are addictive, you should know that the active ingredient in Viagra, sildenafil, is not an addictive substance.
These medications work by increasing the blood flow to the penis and facilitate the erection process. Addiction is brain-triggered, but Viagra does not target the nervous processes in the brain. That is why it is considered a safe option for those who want to faster recover their sexual potency after prostate cancer treatment.
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 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:
- The secretions for the testicles, the prostate and the seminal vesicles that flow into the urethra. When these fluids are emitted, a feeling of great pleasure and inevitability is generated.
- The pelvic floor muscles contract and ejaculation occurs.
- The mental stimulation that creates feelings of release and relaxation.
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. That means that you will still be able to have pleasurable sex after prostate surgery.
Sex after prostate removal – What orgasm changes can you expect?
- Ejaculation will cease:
Without a prostate gland or seminal vesicles, you will no longer experience ejaculation. Even though your orgasm may feel different, it will still be pleasurable. - Leaking urine during sex:
This is possible but does not happen to all men. It’s harmless and temporary. - Performance anxiety:
Don’t underestimate the emotional roller coaster of prostate cancer surgery and recovery. It’s normal to worry about sex after prostate cancer. Being open and honest with your partner will help.
Keep in mind that your overall health, age, and present ED status are all factors in your recovery to sex after prostate surgery.
Less commonly, the prostate cancer tumor may bulge to one or both sides of the prostate gland, making nerve-sparing surgery extremely difficult or impossible.
Dr. Samadi will help you understand your exact prostate cancer status and the position and size of your tumor. In some cases, a nerve graft can be performed to regenerate the penile nerves for sex after prostate surgery.
- Changes in mood and libido:
The psychological impact of surgery can be significant; this will leave you tired and irritable, not in the mood for sex so you will need to move towards intimacy slowly and your desire will return back to normal.
Steps to recover orgasm and potency after prostate surgery
The key to enjoying sex after prostate surgery is to start when you’re ready. Dr. Samadi and his knowledgeable team are available to support you and your partner as you work to resume sexual activity.
Moreover, it is important to rethink the way you look at sexual act. These intimate moments release more endorphins when they are intensified with all sorts of that arouse the pleasure for both partners, such as hugging or resorting to sex toys. Oral sex after prostate cancer is another form of intimacy that connects the two partners during intercourse.
Sex After Prostate Surgery – Getting Started
- Masturbate:
This helps you learn how your body will respond to stimulation after surgery and builds your sexual confidence. - Kegel exercises:
Try out pelvic floor exercises to improve orgasm and urinary control. - Involve your partner:
Work with your partner through physical and emotional intimacy; sex will follow. - ED medications:
Don’t hesitate to try oral medication for erectile dysfunction. They’ll actually speed your recovery through penile rehabilitation and you may only need them for a short time. - Have sex:
Practice makes perfect; the sooner you try, the sooner you’ll get back to enjoying sex after prostate surgery.
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) treatment after prostate surgery
For the few men who experience ED after prostate surgery that lasts more than two years, Dr. Samadi provides expert counsel and referral for alternative ED treatments.
Penile injection therapy for sex after prostate surgery
If oral medications are not effective, penile injection therapy can be used to help the nerves regenerate or recover sufficiently. In a recent study, it was shown that it is very valuable to use injection therapy to aid erections soon after surgery to increase the chances of the return of normal function.
Penile implants for sex after prostate surgery
In some cases, no erectile function will return after prostate surgery. In such cases, you may want to explore the option of a penile implant for a permanent ED solution. A penile implant is an excellent option and is associated with a very high rate of patient and partner satisfaction.
Vacuum pumps for sex after prostate surgery
If you are still wondering if there is sex after prostate cancer, it means that none of the above solutions works for you. There is one more alternative that can help you resume your sex life after prostatectomy.
You can resort to a vacuum constriction device (VCD). It uses the power of the vacuum effect to draw blood into the penis which, in its turn, maintains an erection. This solution is less invasive than the others and, with practice, men can deem it effective every time they engage in intercourse.
Sex after prostate cancer therapies
Maybe you haven’t had a prostatectomy yet. Nonetheless, other treatments for prostate cancer may put your sex life through further issues.
Sex after brachytherapy for prostate cancer
Brachytherapy is a prostate cancer treatment that relies on the insertion of radioactive implants in the prostate gland. Given its nature, radiation can be passed on through semen which is the reason why doctors are urging men to have sexual restraint for one to two weeks after the seed implant. Sex after prostate cancer radiation treatment can take place after these two weeks, but not without a condom for the following two months.
Sex after hormone therapy for prostate cancer
Male hormones are helping prostate cancer cells survive and evolve. To counteract this phenomenon, doctors prescribe hormone therapy that initiates a reduction in the levels of male hormones knowns as androgens.
For some men, hormone therapy causes them to lose their libido. In other cases, men are experiencing the same intensity in their sex desire. However, they find themselves unable to reach orgasm or the amount of ejaculated semen is reduced.
To reengage in sex after hormone therapy for prostate cancer, you can resort to medication or other treatments for erection problems.
Your partner underwent a radical prostatectomy – What to do
If your husband or partner is undergoing robotic surgery for prostate cancer treatment or is in the midst of recovery, it can be difficult to know the right things to say or do.
Your patience and understanding are the most valuable support you can provide. Find ways to rebuild physical intimacy with your partner. However, don’t be discouraged or offended if it takes time for him to feel comfortable being intimate again.
A solution to the tension you might be both experiencing can be couple therapy. A sex therapist can offer to counsel and assess whether the obstacles you are facing are either psychological, physical, or both.
Prostate cancer can be an emotional journey for the entire family. Trust that you and your partner will soon enjoy healthy, happy sex after prostate surgery.