This information has been reprinted courtesy of the Erectile Dysfunction Information Center (www.erectile-dysfunction-treatment.org) for personal use only.

A Radical Prostatectomy Can Cause Impotence

There are many causes of erectile dysfunction. But the chief cause of continued dysfunction is ignorance. Many men believe that if Viagra fails, there is no hope for resolving male impotence.

The facts are clear. Restoration of erectile function is possible for almost all men--even those for whom Viagra does not work. Understanding this, a national coalition of ED specialists set out to solve this epidemic of ignorance and unresolved male impotence.

Calling themselves the Erectile Dysfunction Information Center, this network of experienced doctors and nurses created an informational comprehensive website for men with ED and their partners.

On these pages you can read an overview of male impotence, learn about its causes and many treatment options, and obtain sound advice about relationships.

A radical prostatectomy can be a lifesaver. It can also be a destroyer—of your sex life. Click Prostate Cancer for a full description of its relationship to impotence.

To remove the cancer and reduce the chance of recurrence, the surgeon performing a radical prostatectomy may have to damage or destroy nerves surrounding the prostate that control an erection. The good news is the prospect of beating cancer and resuming your previous lifestyle. The bad news is that you may be left impotent or incontinent.

If you have erectile dysfunction as a result of a radical prostatectomy, you are not alone. A study in the Oct. 3, 2000, issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute revealed that two years after a radical prostatectomy, 79.6% of men reported they were impotent and 9.6% said they were incontinent.

Because impotence is so common, medical science has been busy inventing treatments for it. Today, nearly every man who has impotence can be helped, even those who have had treatment for prostate cancer including radiation or a radical prostatectomy. (Click here to learn about impotence treatments.)

Every treatment has pros and cons. Viagra® is a very patient-friendly treatment, yet it commonly fails in 30-40% of the men who try it. When nerves are damaged during a radical prostatectomy, Viagra is usually not a viable option.

At the other end of the treatment spectrum, a penile implant provides a solution for almost all patients--including those who have had a radical prostatectomy--but does require a 45-minute surgical procedure.

If you have had a radical prostatectomy...

If you have impotence following a radical prostatectomy, the best advice is to see an urologist who is experienced in treating impotence. These physicians understand the relationship between prostate cancer, radical prostatectomy, and impotence. They have up-to-date knowledge and experience in the latest treatments.

Also, make sure that you involve your partner in any discussion with the doctor regarding your post-prostatectomy impotence and its treatment. Your partner's sexual satisfaction is at stake, too.

Impotence following a radical prostatectomy can be challenging. But today, modern technology is giving men with a radical prostatectomy back what many thought they had lost forever—a firm erection and a satisfying intimate relationship.

For additional information about radical prostatectomy and other prostate cancer treatments, visit the Prostate Cancer Institute.

This page revised March 2005

Copyright 2005 Erectile Dysfunction Information Center. All rights reserved. This site contains information about erectile dysfunction (impotence) for men with ED and their partners. Nothing in this site may be reproduced without written authorization from the Erectile Dysfunction Information Center.