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Are you experiencing dry orgasm after prostate cancer treatments?

Posted by jc76 @jc76, Apr 7, 2024

For me this is a very embarassing question and subject. I think MCC is a great place to ask.

I have seen some past post but don't remember much about the discussion. I had 30 rounds of proton radiation and no ADT. It will be 1 year since my last treatment in July 2024.

I am not sexually active (intercourse wise due to back and medical problems with both spouse and I). My spouse and I enjoy each other with manual arousal love making.

I noticed orgasms are dry with little or no liquid. I plan to discuss with my R/O in July but would like to see if this is something that has happen with others who did not have RP. I am not sure if I should be concerned about it or that is a common issue after radiation.

Bear with me was not easy to ask. I have found MCC a place where I can ask embarassing (at least for me) questions where I would never do so in person or in a in-person group.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

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jc76 | @jc76 | Aug 14 5:49am
In reply to @goblue364 "I’m coming up on one year since I finished my 28 sessions of radiation treatment for..." + (show)
Profile picture for goblue364 @goblue364

I’m coming up on one year since I finished my 28 sessions of radiation treatment for PC. I’m dry too and never was told this was a side effect. I thought I did a lot of research but have to blame myself. I’m working on getting over it but it does make me hesitate for sex. Thanks everyone in this group.

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@goblue364
This happened to me exactly as you posted.

I really did not remember being told this was a common side affect. But another poster reminded me you are being told so much it could have happened and you just did not remember.

But for me did not remember and immediately contacted my R/O and told common as radiation hits the seminal and prostate vessels. That did not help as was kind of dramatic even at my age.

I agree with you about the sex part. It really put a negative on me even trying. I did though talk to my wife about it so we try to stay intimate in other ways.

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bkizer | @bkizer | Aug 14 7:11pm
In reply to @brian5837 "I'm a month off of Orgovyx, 5 months since 20 weeks of Proton radiation ended, and..." + (show)
Profile picture for brian5837 @brian5837

I'm a month off of Orgovyx, 5 months since 20 weeks of Proton radiation ended, and started daily Cialis about 5 days ago . I thought I would test things out even though my doc said it would take 3-6 months before T recovery. (Cialis seemed to already be generating some new responsiveness.) That's when I experienced no orgasm reached when I felt like I would. And that's what sent me to here and elsewhere where I read, in effect, that dry orgasms are the norm, so to speak, post radiation. And also that several comments suggest that's no big deal.

Well it feels like a huge deal for me especially because it would be totally unexpected. I was never told of this. So it's a shock. I went back over all the consent forms and the pretreatment info and they cover just about every unfortunate outcome but not this. The closest I could find was a reference to sterility (but to my mind that's different).

There was no cancer in my seminal vessels per the MRI and thankfully no metastasis. So the margins should have been small.

Questions: 1) Is there no hope of restored orgasms as things continue to heal and the Orgovyx effects dissipate?
2) For those here who have reconciled themselves to dry orgasms, I get that it's better than the cancerous alternative, but how did you get to acceptance? I'm a long way from that and it's very troubling.

Many thanks all.

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I’ve had dry orgasms for 14yrs now perfectly normal, I’m 78 and still having good sex, really helps with the right partner

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bruinsmapaul | @bruinsmapaul | 2 days ago
In reply to @scottbeammeup "I had dry orgasms, too, when I stopped Orgovyx but now that it's almost a year..." + (show)
Profile picture for scottbeammeup @scottbeammeup

I had dry orgasms, too, when I stopped Orgovyx but now that it's almost a year later, I ejaculate a lot of clear pre-cum which feels good. Unfortunately, I only have orgasms about half the time now when I used to have them 90% of the time. I also need 20 mg Viagra when I needed nothing before. Orgasms were pretty weak but I did pelvic floor physical therapy and that greatly improved their quality.

As for how to get to acceptance, I'm still not there. Some days I'm OK, others I'm angry or sad. That's just how it is, I assume. I guess over time I'l get used to it since it seems people can get used to just about anything.

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@scottbeammeup

Hey Scott,

My name is Paul and I’m 67 years old. I finally decided to check out the Mayo Clinic blogs and I read your story... I thought I would contribute as I went through the madness years ago (5+) and I’m still having consequences.

I was diagnosed way back during the pandemic with a similar score (Gleason 7 4+3) and in actuality I had it way before then as my PSA was rather low (under 3) but when it started creeping up I was recommended a biopsy which was fun by the way... I was seeing an old-school Urologist (Garo M. Tertzakian was born in Lebanon) and he recommended removal. I chose a second opinion with another Urologist (Dr. Leonard A. Farber) that specializes in prostate cancer and he recommended SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy). I also had an option to do hormone therapy with 2 shots of Lupron (every 3 months) which really sucked as the side-affects were real... Libido = 0 and hot flashes for the duration plus... my wife was pissed! ha ha. I did the hydrogel spacer, (SpaceOAR) to protect the rectum from the radiation (not 100% protection at all...).

When all that ran its course, my labido came back 2-fold and the hot flashes subsided pretty much intirely. I have scar tissue which makes peeing a little less flowing and there are minor accidents)... and my bowel movements are more frequent but not terrible and tolerable.
I was taking Viagra, Cialis which worked for a while but not for the last couple of years. I have resorted to having to take a shot at the base of my penis. It’s called Trimix. It’s really not as bad as it sounds... a very small needle and very little pain. Well worth it. The erection will last a little longer than desired tho... best at night as becomes a little rough whilst walking around for a while...

Now though... as time is going by... I’ve been having trouble having an orgasm which really sucks... (and that’s including by myself) Luckily I really enjoy oral sex which helps very much. This has been going on for about six months now unfortunately... I have an appointment coming up with my original doctor (Garo M. Tertzakian) which will be interesting... to see if there’s anything that will help with that.

I forgot to mention now that I’m proofreading... my PSA gets checked every six months and I’m happy to say it has stayed at 0.2 which is almost undetectable...

I’m hoping by writing this that yourself, or someone is familiar with this situation and what to do about it...

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