The effect of prostate cancer on marital relationship
The life of a cancer patient is affected from all aspects, as the injury limits the patient’s ability to practice his daily life activities, and practice his work, and may also affect the marital relationship with his life partner, especially if the cancer is related to the reproductive system.
In this article, we discuss the effect of prostate cancer on the marital relationship, and answer the most common questions of patients about prostate cancer and erection.
Prostate gland cancer
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers that affect men after skin cancer, as prostate cells divide excessively uncontrollably, and the cancerous tumor may grow so much that it can reach the closure of the urethra, through which urine passes from the bladder to the outside of the body.
The entire experience of prostate cancer, including radiotherapy, hormone therapy, or surgery, affects how well a couple has sex, but most problems are temporary or controllable and can be dealt with after continued treatment.
Prostate cancer and erection
Erectile dysfunction occurs in the vast majority of prostate cancer patients, with about 80% of patients being able to keep the penis erect enough for penetration.
There is a strong relationship between prostate cancer and erection, as the prostate in the body is located in a very sensitive location, located near the main nerves, blood vessels, and muscles responsible for erection.
Various cancer treatments such as surgery or radiation therapy damage the cells in those areas, making the process of erection or orgasm very difficult, while hormone therapy reduces the levels of testosterone in the body, so the man loses sexual desire and weakens his performance during the process of intercourse.
The effect of prostate cancer on sexual relationship
Prostate cancer patients or those treated for prostate cancer have some problems related to sexual intercourse and reproductive opportunities, including :
- Loss of libido.
- Erectile dysfunction.
- Lack of semen production.
- Small penis size.
- Orgasms without semen.
- Problems with fertility and the ability to conceive.
- Impaired performance as a result of stress and anxiety during intercourse.
These problems with a prostate cancer patient persist for several weeks or more, depending on the type of treatment the patient receives and how responsive they are, as men who have undergone surgery or received radiation therapy have shown improvement in sexual intercourse within about a year since the start of treatment.
Sexual Relationship After Prostate Cancer
The effect of prostate cancer on sexual intercourse is not a permanent effect, treatment requires time and patience, and consulting a doctor about one of the treatment options that help the patient return to marital intercourse again, among those treatment options are the following :
- Oral medications : there are many oral tablets that improve blood flow to the penis and help erections, such as tadalafil, sildenafil, and vardenafil.
- Topical creams such as prostadil.
- Penile pumps : penile pumps draw blood to the penis just before having sex, and are suitable for men who have an erection, but for a short time.
- Local injections or implants in the penis.
- Herbal supplements such as ginseng and yohimbe.
A healthy and exercise-based lifestyle such as Kegel exercise, smoking cessation, and eating healthy meals also helps to improve the patient’s condition and restore his sexual life.
The impact of prostate cancer on the marital relationship cannot be ignored, but it is recommended that the man should talk to his wife and choose the appropriate treatment methods for both parties, and discuss the challenges of the new sex life they face together, such as getting used to dry orgasms due to not secreting enough semen.
