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Orgasm Problems Common After Prostate Surgery
May 10, 2004 (San Francisco) -- The quality of a man's orgasm often decreases after prostate cancer surgery, according to a new study presented at a meeting of men's health specialists. But the good news is that orgasm quality improves over time.
Although prostate cancer surgery is known to cause sexual function problems, the emphasis has been placed on erection problems, says lead researcher Andrew R. McCullough, MD, at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association in San Francisco. He is director of the Sexual Health and Male Infertility and Microsurgery Programs at New York University School of Medicine in New York.
McCullough says no long-term studies had been done on orgasm quality after prostate cancer surgery, so he and his team performed a study on 228 men. In order to rate orgasm quality, the men, average age of 59, completed questionnaires before prostate cancer surgery and several times during the following 24 months.
Before prostate cancer surgery, 76% of the men described their orgasm quality as either good or very good. But after surgery, some men in the very good category said their orgasm quality had fallen.
There are many factors at play, says McCullough, including the effect of surgery on sexual function and the psychological stress of a cancer diagnosis.
Approximately 15% of men with poor to fair orgasms had an improvement and described their orgasms as good or very good two years after surgery. Younger men, men who were able to get an erection, and men with more sexual desire were all more likely to report an improvement in orgasm quality.
But the good news is that orgasm quality continued to improve in the months after prostate cancer surgery. Treatment with medications to improve erectile function, such as Viagra, also improved orgasm quality, says McCullough. Erectile dysfunction treatments also helped speed return of both erectile function and orgasm quality.
"These findings are consistent with what I see in my practice," Anthony Y. Smith, MD, tells WebMD. "Around the time of surgery, men experience stress and other factors that probably do carry forward for some time, but in a significant percentage of men, orgasmic quality gets better over time, and it gets better with erectile dysfunction treatments." He is a professor of urology at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
"The findings are good news," he says, noting that many men dread prostate cancer surgery because they fear permanent impairment of sexual function. "Certainly age is always a factor for recovery of sexual function. Older men have less success after surgery, but some of the other things are probably related to stress of diagnosis. Recovery is not something that may happen overnight; the recovery may take a couple of years."
Even with erectile dysfunction treatments, recovery is gradual, he says. "What we tell patients is not to expect anything early on, but that treatment will keep the [nerves] functioning so that eventually sexual function will recover. Patience is the key."
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Indication
Uroxatral® (alfuzosin HCl 10 mg extended-release tablets) is an alpha1-blocker for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of BPH.
Important Safety Information
Do not take UROXATRAL if you have liver problems or if you are taking antifungal drugs like ketoconazole or itraconazole, or HIV drugs like ritonavir.
UROXATRAL can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, especially when starting treatment. This may lead to fainting, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do any dangerous activity until you know how UROXATRAL will affect you. This is especially important if you already have a problem with low blood pressure or take medicines to treat high blood pressure. There may be an increased risk of low blood pressure and fainting when taking UROXATRAL in combination with blood pressure medication or nitrates, or erectile dysfunction medication.
If considering cataract surgery (clouding of the eyes), tell your eye surgeon that you are currently taking UROXATRAL or have previously been treated with an alpha-blocker.
Before taking UROXATRAL, tell your doctor if you have kidney problems.
Also, tell your doctor if you or any family member(s) have or take medications for a rare heart condition known as congenital prolongation of the QT interval.
BPH and prostate cancer can cause the same symptoms. However, UROXATRAL is not a treatment for prostate cancer.
The most common side effects with UROXATRAL are dizziness, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, and tiredness.
Please see UROXATRAL full prescribing information.
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