Prostate cancer impacts sexual functions in men, potentially causing difficulties during sexual intercourse.
In the United States, prostate cancer ranks as the second most common cancer among men, following skin cancer. As many individuals navigate the challenging journey of treatment, understanding and addressing the potential impacts on sexual function is crucial.
Prostate cancer treatment can significantly affect sexual activity in multiple ways, primarily through physical and psychological effects.
**Physical impacts on sexual function include:**
Hormone therapy, often used in prostate cancer treatment, can lead to erection problems and a reduced sex drive due to lowered testosterone levels. Radiotherapy, another common treatment, can cause erectile dysfunction, reduced or absent semen production during orgasm, and sometimes uncomfortable ejaculation. All treatments may contribute to fatigue and other side effects affecting sexual desire and performance.
**Psychological and emotional effects also play a major role:**
The diagnosis itself can cause anxiety, depression, and stress that reduce sexual desire and activity even before treatment begins. Many men report a decrease in sexual frequency and intimacy after diagnosis and treatment due to emotional distress, fear, and shifts in self-perception.
**Strategies to manage these sexual side effects include:**
Medical treatments for erectile dysfunction, such as oral medications (PDE5 inhibitors), penile injections, vacuum erection devices, or pellets inserted into the penis, can help. The use of rectal spacers during radiation therapy has been shown to reduce long-term erectile dysfunction by protecting nearby tissues.
Giving oneself time to recover before resuming sexual activity and not rushing into it is also essential. Open communication with one's partner about feelings and sexual concerns can help maintain intimacy. Seeking counseling or support groups to address emotional and psychological effects is also advised.
Discussing concerns openly with one's healthcare provider or specialist nurse is crucial, as they can provide advice and referrals to sexual health resources.
In summary, prostate cancer treatments often cause sexual side effects through hormonal, physical, and psychological pathways. Managing these effects involves a combination of medical interventions, emotional support, communication, and patience, tailored to each individual's needs and preferences.
It's important to note that while prostate cancer treatment can negatively impact sexual activity, people can still experience orgasms after therapy, although they may be dry orgasms. Additionally, some treatments may affect a person's ability to ejaculate seminal fluid at climax, and passing urine when climaxing is a potential side effect of some prostate cancer treatments.
Hormone therapy can cause erectile dysfunction, reduce interest in sex, and cause fertility problems. Psychological support, such as sex therapy or couples therapy, may help individuals and couples make adjustments to accommodate physical changes.
Interestingly, a study found that among men ages 20-29 who ejaculate 21 or more times a month, there were fewer instances of prostate cancer compared to those ejaculating 4-7 times a month. The reasons for these results are unclear, but one theory refers to prostate stagnation, which might occur when less frequent ejaculation allows prostate secretions to build up, possibly contributing to cancer.
Surgical removal of cancer tissue or the prostate carries a risk of damaging nerves that control erections. Despite these challenges, rehabilitation is possible after prostate cancer treatment, allowing a person to regain an erection and engage in sexual activity and enjoyment.
- Prostate cancer treatment, such as hormone therapy and radiotherapy, can lead to erection problems and reduced sex drive due to lowered testosterone levels, contribute to erectile dysfunction, reduce or absent semen production during orgasm, and cause uncomfortable ejaculation.
- The psychological and emotional impacts of prostate cancer, including anxiety, depression, and stress, can reduce sexual desire and activity before treatment even begins, and may cause a decrease in sexual frequency and intimacy after diagnosis and treatment due to emotional distress, fear, and shifts in self-perception.
- Strategies to manage the sexual side effects of prostate cancer include the use of medical treatments for erectile dysfunction, open communication with one's partner, seeking counseling or support groups for emotional and psychological effects, discussing concerns with healthcare providers or specialist nurses, giving oneself time to recover before resuming sexual activity, and using rectal spacers during radiation therapy to reduce long-term erectile dysfunction.
- Despite the potential negative impacts of prostate cancer treatment on sexual activity, people can still experience orgasms after therapy, although they may be dry orgasms, and some treatments may affect a person's ability to ejaculate seminal fluid at climax and cause passing urine when climaxing.
- Hormone therapy can also cause infertility problems, and psychological support such as sex therapy or couples therapy may help individuals and couples make adjustments to accommodate physical changes.
- A study found that among younger men who ejaculate frequently (21 or more times a month), there were fewer instances of prostate cancer compared to those who ejaculate less frequently (4-7 times a month), although the reasons for these results are unclear.
- Surgical removal of cancer tissue or the prostate carries a risk of damaging nerves that control erections, but rehabilitation is possible after prostate cancer treatment, allowing a person to regain an erection and engage in sexual activity and enjoyment.
