Prostate Cancer Impotence - What are the Chances?

Some of the treatments used are responsible for prostate cancer impotence, but not every man with prostate cancer is affected. There is no way of knowing who will be affected with this side effect and who will not; the impotence could be temporary or permanent.

The statistics show that approximately 10% of patients will experience impotence. It appears that those most at risk are those who were impotent before they underwent prostate cancer treatment. Men who had no impotency problems before their cancer treatment are more likely to return to normal afterwards.

Impotency has an enormous emotional impact on most men. The usual emotions that are experienced include frustration, anger, lack of confidence and sadness. Fortunately, recent advances in treating impotency have found viable treatments.

Impotence is defined as the inability to maintain an erection during intercourse, or the inability to have an erection at all. Prostate cancer treatment can damage the nerve pathways or the veins that service the penis, making an erection difficult or impossible.

Normally, blood flows into chambers in the penis at the start of an erection and the erection blocks the blood from flowing out again. The treatment for prostate cancer may interfere with this process.

The most common prostate cancer treatments that cause impotence are prostate surgery, radiation therapy and cryotherapy. Hormone therapy doesn't cause impotence exactly, but it can affect sexual desire because testosterone, the male sex hormone, is eliminated in this treatment.

It is most important that you do not try to go it alone with this problem; bottling up your feelings is counter-productive and can only make things worse. Talk to your partner or get your doctor to explain what has caused the impotence and what can be done.

Talking to your partner prevents them thinking that you have no interest in them anymore, which leads to more feelings of anger and rejection.

There are different ways to express intimacy; intimacy isn't restricted to intercourse. Explore other ways for intimacy between you and your partner; you will come to realize that sex doesn't have to be the most important thing.

Intimacy can be intellectual, cognitive and experiential. Discover ways to enjoy exchanging thoughts and ideas, enjoying the similarities and differences in your opinions and doing things together. Share your thoughts and feelings with each other, and experience intimacy through empathy.

Intimacy can also be sexual when you engage in kissing, stroking, fondling and cuddling. Your sexuality is not necessarily limited to having an erection. You can still enjoy sex and experience orgasms and ejaculation without having an erection. You don't need sexual intercourse to have love in your life.

Build an intimate connection with each other and seek therapy together as a couple to learn new ways to be intimate.

There has been considerable research into impotency and there are various options available to you if you do want to experience erections. Treatments for impotence include penile injections, medications for impotence, penile implants, vacuum erection devices, sex therapy and urethral suppositories.

Investigate several options and discuss treatment with your doctor to find the treatment that give will you the most benefits. Maintain a positive attitude and keep communicating with your partner for the best results.

Be aware that some impotence treatments could be dangerous unless you have been positively diagnosed with the condition. Do not take any treatments without first consulting your doctor.