When men have erectile problems after a prostatectomy, they often feel as if they must be the only one with problems of this nature. The truth is that 70 to 90 percent of men who are prostate cancer survivors suffer from erectile dysfunction in some form – mostly temporarily, but sometimes permanently.
Immediately after treatment most men have erectile dysfunction, which can include loss of desire, pain during intercourse and difficulty reaching orgasm.
Generally, younger men regain sexual potency more quickly, and in greater numbers, than older men. The Cleveland Clinic Foundation has released statistics revealing that 40 percent of their patients recover full function within six mont
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hs and 60 to 70 percent recover within 18 months.
The degree of surgical excellence seems to play a part – the better the surgeon, the less damage there are to the nerve endings, which run alongside the prostate, not through it. It must be remembered that nerve endings can also be damaged during radiation. Small blood vessels that supply the pelvic region get scarred, causing fibrosis. As time goes by, the tissues go from soft to leathery, making them less pliable and expandable.
It is thought that in the long run, the levels of impotence that result from surgery are more or less equal to the impotence levels that result from radiation. But the bottom line is that the majority of men recover a degree of their potency levels after prostate cancer treatment – but it can take upwards of two years.
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