In some cases, radiation therapy is not only a blessing, but also a curse. This is often the case for men who receive radiation for prostate cancer. Throughout their treatment, penile tissue and nerves can become damaged resulting in radiation induced erectile dysfunction (RIED).
Full Answer
How long does Ed last after prostatectomy?
Recovery of potency may be very rapid in younger patients and is sometimes immediate. However, for most patients the recovery is gradual and can take up to 3 years to plateau, although typically a patient sees a return to erectile function after about 12 months.
Is terazosin effective for treating erectile dysfunction?
erectile dysfunction is already mentioned in the SmPC of doxazosin, terazosin and silodosin. Discussion and conclusion The Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb received fourteen reports of erectile dysfunction associated with the use of tamsulosin. Erectile dysfunction was mostly present after several days of tamsulosin use.
What are the chances of erectile dysfunction after vasectomy?
- Consider if you’re committed to no longer having children.
- Talk to your partner about your decision and the long-term effects.
- Talk to your doctor about the procedure and side effects.
- Ask what you should bring with you the day of the procedure, and arrange for someone to drive you home.
How long after prostate surgery for erectile?
The prostate also helps the drive of semen during ejaculation. Theres pretty good evidence to show that men can continue to recover erectile function up to two years after prostatectomy surgery , which we believe is partly because it takes time for the bruising and scar tissue after surgery to settle down.
How long does ED last after prostate radiation?
Nearly all men will experience some erectile dysfunction for the first few months after prostate cancer treatment. However, within one year after treatment, nearly all men with intact nerves will see a substantial improvement.
Does Viagra work after prostate radiotherapy?
Radiation sometimes affects the ability for a person to have a normal erection. Complete loss of erections after radiation treatment can happen in 40-50% of treated patients. There are medications, like sildenafil (also known as Viagra), that can help the ability to get back erections in almost 70% of such patients.
How do you get an erection after prostate cancer treatment?
Medications: Well-known drugs like sildenafil (Revatio, Viagra), tadalafil (Adcirca, Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn) are pills you can take to improve blood flow to your penis. These can help ED if you've had prostate cancer, but only when your nerves aren't damaged by surgery or radiation.
What are the long term effects of radiation treatment for prostate cancer?
Long-term Complications These may include proctitis (rectal inflammation), cystitis (bladder inflammation), urinary or rectal bleeding, narrowing of the rectum or urethra, chronic diarrhea or urinary frequency or urgency, or development of an ulcer in the rectum.
How can I improve my erectile dysfunction?
The following methods can help to reduce erectile dysfunction, increase stamina, and improve the overall quality of sex:Focus on foreplay. ... Try the start-stop technique. ... Try something new. ... Manage anxiety and stress. ... Quit smoking. ... Open communication. ... Address relationship issues. ... Get more exercise.More items...
Can radiation cause erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is the most common long-term complication of radiation therapy. However, its occurrence may decrease when more sophisticated treatments are used, such as radioactive seed implants (brachytherapy), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), or 3-D conformal radiotherapy. Hormone therapy.
Can you get an erection without testes?
Having one testicle removed need not diminish or reduce sex drive or erections. But because the testicles produce male hormones, men who have lost both of their testes may experience a reduction in sex drive and difficulty in getting and/or maintaining an erection.
What is the downside of radiation for prostate cancer?
Urinary problems: Radiation can irritate the bladder and lead to a condition called radiation cystitis. You might need to urinate more often, have a burning sensation while you urinate, and/or find blood in your urine. Urinary problems usually improve over time, but in some men they never go away.
What is a normal PSA level after radiation?
Recent studies have shown that for optimal results, PSA levels should be lower than 1 ng/ml, and even lower than 0.5 ng/ml. Levels that are above 1 or 2 ng/ml 12 to 18 months following completion of radiation treatments are very worrisome, because they indicate that the cancer may not have been eradicated.
What are the side effects of radiation to the prostate area?
Potential side effects of external beam radiation therapy for prostate cancer may include:Frequent urination.Difficult or painful urination.Blood in the urine.Urinary leakage.Abdominal cramping.Diarrhea.Painful bowel movements.Rectal bleeding.More items...•
What is ED after radiotherapy?
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a relatively common complication after radiotherapy for prostate cancer. The etiology of ED is unclear. It is likely related to age, pretreatment erectile function, androgen deprivation therapy, and the volume of tissue irradiated. It is unclear whether the dose to vario …. Erectile dysfunction after radiotherapy ...
Is ED related to age?
The etiology of ED is unclear. It is likely related to age, pretreatment erectile function, androgen deprivation therapy, and the volume of tissue irradiated. It is unclear whether the dose to various parts of the penis, such as the penile bulb and corpora cavernosa, is related to the development of ED. Following radiotherapy, the early use of ...
Is ED a complication of prostate cancer?
It is unclear whether the dose to vario …. Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a relatively common complication after radiotherapy for prostate cancer. The etiology of ED is unclear.
How does prostate cancer affect libido?
Prostate cancer treatments may affect your hormones, which in turn can affect your libido. Treatment may also affect the nerves, muscles or blood vessels that play important roles in causing an erection. Surgery: The nerves responsible for an erection travel very close to the prostate gland.
What are the side effects of prostate cancer?
Erectile dysfunction (ED) and incontinence (inability to hold urine) are the most common side effects of prostate cancer treatment. Although men have more questions about ED than they do about incontinence, they may be less likely to ask. Here's what you need to know.
How long does it take for a prostate to heal?
Time is the most important factor in recovery. The healing process for men who have had nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (removal of the prostate) is often 18 to 24 months or more, because nerve tissue requires a longer time to heal. How much erectile function returns depends on several things: 1 The type of operation you had (one, both, or no nerves spared). Most men with intact nerves will see a substantial improvement within a year of treatment. 2 Your age: Men under 50 or 60 are more likely to recover their erections than older men. 3 Your erectile function before the operation. Men who had good erections before surgery are more likely to recover their ability to get an erection than those who had previous erection problems.
What hormones are produced by the prostate gland?
The prostate makes seminal fluid, which is part of semen. Normal functioning of the prostate gland depends on testosterone and androgen, which are hormones made by the testicles. Libido is the desire to have sex. A low libido may be caused by low levels of testosterone. It may also be caused by:
How do erections occur?
How Erections Occur. As men become sexually aroused, the brain sends messages through the nervous system to the muscular walls of the blood vessels in the penis. The vessels enlarge, allowing more blood to flow into the penis. The incoming blood makes the penis bigger and harder, causing an erection.
Why does my penis get bigger?
The incoming blood makes the penis bigger and harder, causing an erection . Even if your libido is normal, your hormones, nervous system, muscles and blood vessels need to be working properly in order to get an erection.
How long does it take for a prostate to heal after a radical prostatectomy?
The healing process for men who have had nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (removal of the prostate) is often 18 to 24 months or more , because nerve tissue requires a longer time to heal. How much erectile function returns depends on several things:
How long does it take for a man to get erectile dysfunction after prostate cancer treatment?
Urological Conditions. Nearly all men will experience some erectile dysfunction for the first few months after prostate cancer treatment. However, within one year after treatment, nearly all men with intact nerves will see a substantial improvement.
Who wrote the article "Erectile Dysfunction Following Radical Prostatectomy"?
This topic area was handled thoroughly in an article written by Dr. Arthur L. Burnett, entitled "Erectile Dysfunction Following Radical Prostatectomy," published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, June 1, 2005. Using a question and answer format, excerpts from this article are provided below.
How long does it take for erectile dysfunction to improve after brachytherapy?
nearly 50% of men who have standard external beam radiation. After two to three years, few men will see much of an improvement and occasionally these numbers worsen over time.
What are the determinants of postoperative erectile dysfunction?
The most obvious determinant of postoperative erectile dysfunction is preoperative potency status. Some men may experience a decline in erectile function over time, as an age-dependent process. Furthermore, postoperative erectile dysfunction is compounded in some patients by preexisting risk factors that include older age, comorbid disease states (e.g., cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus), lifestyle factors (e.g., cigarette smoking, physical inactivity), and the use of medications such as antihypertensive agents that have antierectile effects.
Why is my prostate retraction delayed?
A number of explanations have been proposed for this phenomenon of delayed recovery, including mechanically induced nerve stretching that may occur during prostate retraction, thermal damage to nerve tissue caused by electrocoagulative cautery during surgical dissection, injury to nerve tissue amid attempts to control surgical bleeding, and local inflammatory effects associated with surgical trauma.
What diseases impair erections?
Men with other diseases or disorders that impair their ability to maintain an erection (diabetes, vascular problems, etc.) will have a more difficult time returning to pre-treatment function.
How long does it take for a penis med to work?
Oral medications relax the muscles in the penis, allowing blood to rapidly flow in. On average, the drugs take about an hour to begin working, and the erection-helping effects can last from 8 to 36 hours.
How many men have erectile dysfunction after radiation?
Estimates of how many men experience erectile dysfunction after radiation therapy for prostate cancer vary, ranging from 30 to 60 percent. Talk to your doctor about how to deal with erectile dysfunction following radiation treatment for prostate cancer.
What percentage of patients receive brachytherapy?
Overall 30-65 percent and 55-70 percent of patients receiving brachytherapy or “seeds” or external beam radiation, respectively, remain potent. Although it is impossible to be certain of sexual function following, it is important to discuss this possibility with your physician in order to have a thorough understanding of the possible side effect ...
Can radiation therapy cause erectile dysfunction?
Talk to your doctor about possible treatments. Radiation therapy for prostate cancer can harm erectile tissues. Erectile dysfunction is a side effect for roughly 40 to 50 percent of men who have external beam radiation and for about 30 percent who undergo brachytherapy, which delivers radiation from a source placed inside the body.
Can radiation cause ED?
Yes , radiation for prostate cancer can cause erectile dysfunction (ED) for various reasons. Firstly, the nerves for erection travel just millimeters outside the prostate, so they nerves get exposed to high doses of radiation, and progressively lose function and leads to ED after a few months to years. Secondly, the base of the penis ...
Does radiation kill cancer cells?
Unfortunately, radiation treatment is not precise enough to destroy only cancer cells. It often damages cells nearby, including cells in the nerves that carry signals to the penis causing an erection. Talk to your doctor about possible treatments. Dr. Marc B. Garnick, MD.
Can prostate cancer spread to the heart?
Even prostate cancer itself, in its advanced stages, can spread to the nerves and arteries necessary for an erection. Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD. Cardiologist (Heart Specialist) Side effects are an inevitable aspect of treating just about any form of cancer.
Does radiation cause erections?
Erectile dysfunction is a common side effect of radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Radiation is a potent ally in fighting cancer, since it destroys malignant cells. However, radiation treatments can destroy healthy tissue, too. That includes blood vessels, nerves and other tissue that participate in producing an erection.
How many men regain erections after prostate surgery?
Following surgery, up to 70% of men who have had nerves spared on both sides of the prostate will regain erections with the use of one or more oral drugs for erectile dysfunction. Results are less favorable for men who have had a single nerve spared or no nerves spared. Following radiation therapy, overall, 50% to 60% of men regain erection s ...
How many men regain erections with injections?
Overall, up to 80% of men will regain erections with the use of injection treatments. Side effects include occasional pain due to one of the drugs used for injection therapy, and the development of scar tissue.
What is erectile dysfunction in 2021?
Erectile dysfunction, also called impotence, is the inability to develop or sustain an erection satisfactory for sexual intercourse. Though prostate cancer is not a cause of erectile dysfunction, treatments for the disease can cause the problem. Among them:
What happens after prostate removal surgery?
Surgery. Some degree of erectile dysfunction usually occurs right after surgery to remove the prostate, regardless of whether the technique is performed that tries to spare the nerve that controls erections.
What is the drug in a penile suppository?
For this treatment, the patient places a suppository into the urinary tube (urethra) using a plastic applicator. The suppository contains the drug alprostadil, which travels to the erection chambers. Alprostadil relaxes the muscle in the erection chamber, allowing blood to flow into the penis.
How long does it take to recover from erectile dysfunction?
If the nerve-sparing technique is used, recovery from erectile dysfunction may occur within the first two years following the procedure.
How long does it take for sperm to bank after radiation?
Radiation therapy. The onset of erectile dysfunction following radiation therapy is gradual and usually begins about six months following the treatment. Erectile dysfunction is the most common long-term complication of radiation therapy.
What are the side effects of radiation?
Short Term Side Effects 1 Skin irritation in the treatment area is common. It may become red, irritated, dry, or sensitive. This may start to look like a sunburn. Treat the skin gently to avoid further irritation, and bathe carefully, using only warm water and mild soap. Do not use scented lotions or soaps, as these may cause more irritation. 2 Fatigue is very common with radiation treatment and tends to begin a few weeks into therapy. Fatigue often goes away slowly over the weeks and months after treatment. 3 Irritation to the rectal and urinary tract tissue can cause changes to your bowel and urine habits. It can cause urinary urgency, diarrhea, incontinence, or pain with bowel movements or urination. These symptoms tend to resolve within a few weeks of finishing treatment. Drink plenty of fluids. Talk to your provider about ways to manage these symptoms. In some patients, these problems can last after treatment. 4 Loss of hair in the pelvic area. Hair typically starts to regrow a month or so after treatment. However, your hair might not grow back exactly as it was before treatment and for some, the hair may not ever grow back. 5 Reduced blood counts, including neutropenia, anemia, or thrombocytopenia (low platelet count).
How long does it take for radiation side effects to go away?
Side effects from radiation treatment are related to the area of the body being treated. Patients start to have side effects a few weeks into their treatment. While side effects may be unpleasant, there are treatments to help deal with them. Most side effects are temporary and slowly start to go away once treatment is done.
What is the purpose of radiation oncology visits?
These visits are a chance to ask questions and to talk about any side effects and how to best manage them. You can also call your providers to speak about any side effects.
What to talk about after cancer treatment?
After treatment, talk with your oncology team about receiving a survivorship care plan , which can help you manage the transition to survivorship and learn about life after cancer.
Why do people get second cancers?
These are called secondary cancers, and they happen because of the exposure of healthy tissue to radiation. Modern radiation techniques are designed to limit this exposure.
Does radiation kill prostate cancer?
Possible Side Effects of Radiation Treatment for Prostate Cancer. The radiation used to destroy cancer cells can also hurt normal cells in the nearby area. Side effects from radiation treatment are related to the area of the body being treated. Patients start to have side effects a few weeks into their treatment.
Can radiation therapy cause prostate cancer?
Patients who receive any type of radiation therapy (external beam or brachytherapy) to treat their prostate cancer can have side effects . “Short term” side effects are ones that start during or shortly after your radiation treatment. Below is a list of possible short term side effects. Treatments can affect each patient differently, and you may not have these particular side effects. Talk with your care team about what you can expect from your treatment
How long does it take for a prostate to heal after radiation?
Even when the nerves are not permanently impaired, it can still take six to 18 months for the tiny nerve fibers to recover from the trauma of surgery and restore sexual function. Radiation treatment for prostate cancer can also harm erectile tissues.
What happens if testosterone levels drop?
If testosterone levels drop too low, men can experience erectile dysfunction as well as lackluster libido.
Does Casodex cause erectile dysfunction?
Others, such as flutamide (Eulexin) and bicalutamide (Casodex) may cause erectile dysfunction to a lesser degree. Even prostate cancer itself, in its advanced stages, can spread to the nerves and arteries that are necessary for an erection.
Can erectile dysfunction cause prostate cancer?
When such difficulties occur regularly, it’s time to talk to your doctor. Erectile dysfunction can have many causes, including some forms of prostate disease and medications and surgery for prostate cancer. Fortunately, in many cases, this problem can often be effectively addressed. Some men find relief by taking medications to treat erectile ...
Can erectile dysfunction be treated with medication?
Now that medication can successfully treat most men with erectile dysfunction, many once routine diagnostic tests are used only when the doctor suspects the patient has an underlying problem requiring additional treatment.
Does flomax help with BPH?
But alpha blockers such as tamsulosin (Flomax), alfuzosin (Uroxatral), and silodosin (Rapaflo) can improve the symptoms of BPH with a lower risk of sexual side effects. Transurethral resection of the prostate, a surgical technique often used when medication fails, also causes erectile dysfunction in a small percentage of men.
Can you have an erection after drinking?
Failing to have an erection one night after you’ve had several drinks — or even for a week or more during a time of intense emotional stress — is not erectile dysfunction. Nor is the inability to have another erection soon after an orgasm. Nearly every man occasionally has trouble getting an erection, and most partners understand that.