Erectile dysfunction is common, particularly among men who have had prostate surgery. ED is primarily caused by the prostate gland, which is crucial for male sexual function, and any type of harm or injury to this gland can result in ED. Prostate surgery, though it is primarily the curative procedure for prostate cancer and similar diseases, is incredibly repercussional for a man’s sexual health. ED after prostate surgery, however, can be managed in certain ways to assist with sexual function. This article is going to discuss 5 treatments for erectile dysfunction that have been clinically successful in patients after prostate surgery.
1. Pharmacist:
In most cases, ED is treated with medication in the first month following prostate surgery. The most frequently used ED medications are phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors, including sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis) and vardenafil (Levitra). These drugs work by stimulating the blood supply to the penis and making it more convenient to form and maintain an erection.
PDE5 inhibitors are generally safe, with most side effects occurring as headache, facial flushing, and stomach aches. But men with certain health problems, like heart disease, low blood pressure or a stroke history, might be unable to take these medications. What’s more, PDE5 inhibitors may not work for all men and in some cases, higher doses or other medications may be required.
Another medication to treat ED after prostate surgery is alprostadil, a synthetic hormone that swells the blood vessels in the penis. Alprostadil is either injected through the penis or delivered via a suppository into the urethra. Although alprostadil is generally safe, there are some risks associated with the medication: bruising, pain, scarring at the injection site.
2. Vacuum Devices:
Vacuum constriction devices (VCDs) are non-invasive, non-pharmacological treatment for ED following prostate surgery. These machines operate by opening up a hole near the penis and forcing blood into the rubbery flesh to produce an erection. When the erection is ready, the pressure band is put around the base of the penis to hold the erection in place. VCDs have several advantages:
a. They are non-invasive and do not require surgery or medication.
b. They are available for all types of men, even those that are intolerant of ED medications.
c. They may be used alongside other ED medications or penile shots.
But vacuum machines don’t suit all men – especially those with flow-related diseases, like sickle cell or leukemia. Additionally, men might dislike the devices because they are heavy or ugly.
3. Penile Injections:
Penile injections also work for men who have had ED following prostate surgery. This technique involves delivering a drug (like alprostadil) into the foot of the penis, which relaxes the blood vessels and encourages blood flow to cause an erection. These injections are normally administered by the patient himself, and typically last up to 60 minutes. Although penile injections have a success rate of around 85%, the side effects that may occur include pain, swelling and scarring at the site of injection, and some men might find the act of self-injection unpleasant or unwanted.
4. Pelvic Floor Exercises:
Pelvic floor exercises, also known as Kegel exercises, help erectile dysfunction post prostate surgery. Such exercises will work by contracting and uncontracting the muscles in the pelvic floor, strengthening the muscles and increasing blood supply to the penis. Regular pelvic floor exercises can also improve bladder control and can even increase overall sexual function. You should talk to a physical therapist or a physician for advice on the proper way to do these exercises.
5. Counseling:
There are pills for post-prostate surgery ED, and vacuums and penile implants. But since all these require medical advice, counseling remains one of the most widely ignored approaches to treatment. And here’s why:
Counselling will equip a man and his spouse to manage the mental toll of ED.
Prostate surgery is often life-altering, so ED is associated with loss, anxiety and depression. Counselling will provide a secure space in which emotions and worries can be discussed between the man and his partner. The couple can talk to a mental health provider about their sexual relationship in a way that maximizes both comfort and intimacy.
Counselling can be used to address the underlying factor of ED: psychological.
Damage to the physical nerves and blood vessels that are feeding the penis is often responsible for ED following prostate surgery, but psychological issues may play a role as well. Anxiety, stress and depression all contribute to ED, and a man can learn to come to grips with his emotions through counselling. When we study psychological influences on ED, men learn how to respond differently to stress and anxiety in ways that will enhance sexual functioning.
Counselling may prepare men and their partners for a new sex relationship.
Prostate surgery can certainly alter the experience of sex between a man and he, and couples might need therapy to adapt. Surgical patients, for instance, may have to find new strategies for getting excited or having an orgasm. Counselling might provide a platform for couples to experiment with these new practices and discover ways of making their own alternative form of sexual intercourse. In this way, men and their partners could maintain a satisfactory sex life without ED.
Psychotherapy can be used to augment other ED interventions.
Meds, vacuum pumps and penile implants might be effective treatments for postprostate surgery ED, but they do not treat the psychological and psychic sides of the illness. Counselling supplements these other therapies by equipping men and their partners with strategies to resolve the problems that cause or exacerbate ED. This will increase the effectiveness of other therapies and enable men to have long term success in managing ED.
Conclusion:
It is, therefore, a widespread disorder and may seriously affect a man’s wellbeing. But it’s not a lifelong condition as there are multiple treatments for ED following prostate surgery. You can cure ED after prostate surgery with drugs, vacuums, penile injections, PT exercises, and counseling. This, therefore, requires the consultation of the physician on what should be done to cure him for his wellbeing and condition. With the right medication, men can heal from ED and reclaim sexual function after prostate surgery.
