Did anyone who had prostate removal experience penis length shortening

billybwbf2, my penis had shrunk from radiation for prostate cancer years ago but shrunk further following a salvage prostatectomy. I was completely impotent and I didn't follow a very disciplined course of penile rehabilitation, taking Cialis and purchasing a cheap penis pump. The cheap pump never functioned very well or fit very well so that when I pumped as it expanded my penis it also sucked my scrotum into the tube. Although I was circumcised relatively tightly at birth, since the prostatectomy due to the further shrinkage of my flaccid penis, what remains of my foreskin slips over my glans so that I look uncircumcised.

My experience is much the same as yours, but I am just 6 months after ending 4 months of Lupron and the serious side effects are just starting to subside. At age 83 I already had ED, so I am not surprised that I have no libido. I am not sure if I will ever have an erection again although my urologist mentioned a shot that might help. My shrinkage resulted in the foreskin blocking my urination, so I had to adjust for that by pulling back the foreskin during urination. Still having a lot of sweating 24 hours/day such that I stay damp under clothing and have issues with fungus growth in wettest areas.

@pesquallie thanks for your post! This RP has been such a learning experience! I was circumcised at birth, rather tightly, but after my shrinkage I look uncircumcised now! Foreskin completely covers the head now. I still try the penis pump and pills daily but no change yet!

Billybwb2 and Pesquallie, that is my experience completely. I was also circumcised at birth. Before prostate cancer my penis was of average length and when erect measured a respectable 5 and 1/2 or 6 inches. I never measured it when flaccid, but the glans was always exposed. My shrinkage occurred in stages starting with prostate radiation and progressing after a salvage prostatectomy and I wasn't very conscientious concerning penile rehabilitation. My glans is always covered now and in fact my flaccid penis is now barely visible being enveloped by my remaining foreskin, scrotum and what's left of my pubic fat pad even though I have lost all my excess weight.

I haven't experienced that yet, but then, I haven't had an erection since my surgery 10 months ago. I am praying that my virility will be restored by the first anniversary of my surgery. I was active and virile as a 70 year man just before my surgery, and now I carry a dead wet noodle around with me. One thing to add: my father lived to 99 years and 10 months "with" prostate cancer. He was never treated for it, and he died with his cancerous prostate still in him (PSA = 200 "+"). But when I was present in his assisted care living residential room, and it was time for a diaper change, I noticed that his penis had nearly disappeared. It almost looked like a vagina. So...shrinkage of the penis seemingly can occur for one or more reasons whether you have prostate cancer and had or didn't have the prostatectomy. Maybe it is the 'ole "use it or lose it" syndrome. There must be literature out there to search for.

@rlpostrp

Use it or lose it is an accurate statement. All body muscles shrink if not regularly exercised. Your penis shrinks when it never gets erections. Low testosterone levels prevent erections of all types. Nocturnal erections are unlikely if you have been truly chemically castrated to the point you have low testosterone.

@pesquallie "All body muscles shrink if not regularly exercised. Your penis shrinks when it never gets erections."

The penis has no muscle.

Very interesting comments! I kind of started this discussion talking about my penis shrinking severely after prostate treatment and then surgery! I still have not had an erect ion but my penis has regained
Sensitivity and I now have orgasms even when soft! I too hope to recover my ability to have an erection but haven’t seen it yet!

Yes I did! My doctor never mentioned it but I did a lot of research before the surgery and found that a smaller penis after the surgery is almost always a fact! First let me encourage you that being cancer free is worth all the difficulties of the prostatectomy!
In addition to my prostate cancer I have an enlarged prostate, a very large prostate! Before my surgery I was given finestride to shrink my prostate! Again, my doctors didn’t tell me but as finestride shrank my prostate it also shrank my penis! I took finestride for a year and a half before my surgery and shrank 50% . I also was unable to get an errection! I had alway been larger than average. I measured 6 soft and 7.5 hard. After a year and a half of finestride I couldn’t get hard and shrank to 3 inches. After my prostatectomy they say you shrink to your smallest the day they remove your catheter. I measured 2 inches that day!
I read that after surgery is called “ the last humiliation” because after all you have been thru now you find you penis has gotten shorter! What you said in you letter is true. Although more complicated than this, it is like the cut your urethra in front and back of the prostate take out the prostate then sew it back together. How ever big you prostate was your penis is pulled back into your body to sew the urethra back together. As I said I had a very large prostate so my shrinkage may be more than others. Of course I could not get hard after surgery but after a while with the help of tri mix injection I can get hard. Before I was 7.5 long now I am 6 long so I lost an inch and one half. Soft I’m 3.
Please don’t let this get you down! It is a difficult journey but being cancer free is worth it! It’s a long healing time. I’m currently 5 months after surgery. The incontinence has gotten better but still leaks. For that reason I have not had sex with my wife since the night before my surgery 5 months.
I am happy to report, although I do not get hard on my own, I do with tri mix. And all the sensitivity has come back after I stoped taking finestride. I have have a self induced orgasm which may not be as strong as before but it is pleasurable! Of course with no prostate there is no semen.
I hope I haven’t “ said too much” but having gone thru this made me think I should provide as much knowledge as have for guys just beginning this journey. It brings strange feelings watching the changes that occur but be open and honest with your wife, stay intimate even if you can’t have penetrated sex. It’s important to keep you romantic relationship with her .

I hope you find this helpful! Feel free to contact me if I may be of help to you! Sometimes it helps to just talk about what you are going through.

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It is not a muscle but @pesquallie said very correct thing - a man has to have regular erections because that process causes stretching of spongy tissue and causes intensive blood circulation which keeps penile tissue in top condition.

When person can not have daily erection (or spontaneous nightly erections which have that exact purpose - to keep tissue healthy ) , than one has to induce erections by other means ( pumps, trimix, Viagra, etc) .

It is constantly discussed how RP causes ED but ADT and radiation cause it also. ADT also causes shrinking of testicles as well as of spongy tissue because there is no testosterone to keep male reproductive organs working. With aging testosterone gets lower and ED is present in about 60% of man age 60, 70% of man age 70 , 80% of man aged 80 etc etc , so with age penile tissue gets smaller and smaller.

All in all, if anybody cares about shrinking - that tissue has to be taken care of, natural way or with help of many available methods.