You may have trouble getting or keeping an erection firm enough for intercourse (vaginal or anal) or other sexual activity after any treatment for prostate cancer. This is called erectile dysfunction or impotence.
Learn more about:
Factors affecting erection problems
The prostate is close to nerves, muscles and blood vessels that help control erections. These can be damaged during treatment. If the nerves are removed during surgery, erection problems happen immediately. After radiation therapy and ADT, problems may begin slowly.
Penile rehabilitation strategies
The quality of your erections usually improves over time and can continue to improve for up to 3 years after treatment has finished. However, sometimes erection problems may be permanent.
Aside from cancer treatment, erection problems become more common with age.
Erections can also be affected by:
- diabetes and heart disease
- some medicines for blood pressure or depression
- surgery to the bowel or abdomen
- smoking or heavy drinking
- emotional concerns.
Before and after treatment, you can help keep your penis healthy (penile rehabilitation) in various ways. These may include:
- foreplay and other sexual intimacy with a partner or masturbating
- trying to get erections, starting a month after surgery
- taking prescribed medicines to maintain blood flow in the penis
- stopping smoking and limiting the amount of alcohol you drink
- doing pelvic floor exercises
- injecting prescribed medicine into the penis.
Learn more ways to improve erections. Even without a full erection, you can still reach orgasm by stimulating the penis. Learn about other changes to sexuality and tips for managing changes to your sex life.
→ READ MORE: Ways to improve erections
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Prof Declan Murphy, Consultant Urologist, Director – Genitourinary Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and The University of Melbourne, VIC; Alan Barlee, Consumer; Dr Patrick Bowden, Radiation Oncologist, Epworth Hospital, Richmond, VIC; Bob Carnaby, Consumer; Dr Megan Crumbaker, Medical Oncologist, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, NSW; Henry McGregor, Health Physiotherapist, Adelaide Men’s Health Physio, SA; Jessica Medd, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Department of Urology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital and Headway Health, NSW; Dr Gary Morrison, Shine a Light (LGBTQIA+ Cancer Support Group); Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Graham Rees, Consumer; Kerry Santoro, Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse Consultant, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, SA; Prof Phillip Stricker, Chairman, Department of Urology, St Vincent’s Private Hospital, NSW; Dr Sylvia van Dyk, Brachytherapy Lead, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC.
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