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.*Currently best for people who’ve had prostate cancer surgery and their partners.
Each person may experience side effects of prostate cancer surgery differently. For some people these side effects are temporary. The recovery process might get frustrating, but remember that these changes happen to many individuals — and they can be managed.
Try to stay hopeful about the journey ahead.
Common side effects
of prostate cancer surgery
Changes to your sex life
After surgery, most individuals will experience:
erection problems
Also known as erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence. All individuals will experience at least some short-term erectile dysfunction, because the nerves that are responsible for erections are harmed during surgery. How well and how quickly your erections recover will depend on the extent of the damage to the nerves, your age, and how strong your erections were before surgery.dry orgasm
Surgery removes the prostate, which means you will no longer produce semen and ejaculate during sex. Although it'll feel different, orgasms can still be pleasurable.loss of sensitivity
Rubbing against the prostate can be pleasurable for the bottom partner during anal play or anal sex. Removing the prostate means that these activities are likely to feel different after surgery.
How might surgery affect my sex life?
Improving erections after prostate cancer treatment
Loss of fertility (infertility)
If you would like to have children after surgery, speak to your doctor about saving (banking) your sperm to use later.
Urinary problems
When your surgeon takes out your prostate, this can damage the muscles and nerves that control when you urinate (wee). This is because the prostate sits right underneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra. The urethra is where urine (wee) flows through.
This damage can lead to:
stress incontinence (leaking a few drops when you sneeze, cough, or exercise)
sudden urges to wee
dribbling urine (wee)
After surgery, you'll need to have a catheter for up to two weeks. Once the catheter is removed, you may still experience some leaking and may need to use pads. Your nurse or care team can tell you more about this.
Urinary problems after prostate surgery
Other common
side effects
penile shortening
- (right after surgery)
To give yourself the best chance of a smooth recovery with minimal side effects,
regularly and before surgery.If you have a higher weight, getting fit before surgery might help speed up your recovery. Starting pelvic floor (or Kegel) exercises before surgery can also help reduce any urinary problems afterwards. Your doctor may advise you on having regular bowel movements, to avoid constipation.
