Changes may affect your sex life, feelings of pleasure and intimacy.
Learn more about:
Loss of libido
Reduced interest in sex (low libido) is common during cancer treatment. While anxiety and fatigue can affect libido, it can also be affected by ADT, which lowers testosterone levels, and by the sexual side effects associated with radiation therapy or surgery. Sex drive usually returns when treatment ends, but sometimes changes in libido are ongoing.
Learn tips for managing changes in your sex life.
Loss of pleasure from prostate stimulation
Depending on whether the prostate is removed, or radiation or hormone treatment damages the prostate, you may no longer feel pleasure from the prostate being stimulated. Consider other ways to feel pleasure, such as stimulating the penis or the area around the anus.
Dry orgasm
After surgery, you will feel the muscular spasms and pleasure of an orgasm, but you won’t ejaculate semen. This is called a dry orgasm. It happens because the prostate and seminal vesicles that produce semen are removed during surgery, and the tubes from the testicles (vas deferens) are sealed. Radiation therapy may also affect how much sperm you make, but this is often temporary.
Leaking urine during sex
A radical prostatectomy can weaken the sphincter muscle that controls the flow of urine. This may cause a little urine to leak during intercourse and orgasm. You may find this embarrassing, but it won’t harm your partner.
Before sex, empty your bladder. Try sex in the shower, or use a condom or a constriction ring (available from sex shops) at the base of the penis to prevent leakage. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned.
→ READ MORE: Restoring your sex life
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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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