Shrinking penis after surgery and radiation

Hi @rcp, did you have ADT for prostate cancer? I look forward to learning more about your journey.

If I had that question, I would ask my physical therapist, who specializes in pelvic floor issues.

I had surgery in February and now on ADT. Yes it shrunk after surgery and shrinking with adt. I make pee while sitting. Stand is difficult and pee may escape into pants. It’s the way it is. No remedy as far I know.

Hello, the “Shrinking Penis” phenomenon wasn’t even discussed by my surgeon prior to my RALP performed almost year ago this 10/25/23. I had read a little blurb about it and was minimally aware about the subject and I had done a pretty substantial amount of research on both radiation and surgery before choosing to have my surgery. Other than this website and my continued interest and research. I believe that the topic relating to the “shrinking penis” side effect is not discussed more by design, intention and purposely done so. It’s just one more consideration that a Prostate Cancer Patient has to mentally and emotionally deal with when evaluating his treatment options and protocols.
Most of my research indicated that it was pretty normal for most men to lose about 1/4 up to 1/2 inch in penile length initially following surgery. However, most if not all of the loss in length would be recovered within a year or so. Unfortunately, my personal loss of length has been every bit as much of 1 and 3/4 inches and closer to a total of 2 inches!
Frankly, I was shocked at this result. I had an erect penis of 7 & 1/2 to 7 &3/4 inches prior to my surgery. I am now at about 5 & 1/2 inches in length during erection. I know a lot has been said and discussed about the so called preference and or desire to have an above average length of penis. Personally, I much preferred the length and girth of my pre surgical penis.
My wife noticed it as well but thankfully, my sensitivity, skills and aptitude of making love during sexual intercourse didn’t diminish as a result of my surgery, (My wife’s words, not mine)!
I started using a Penis Vacuum Device, Pump), about 4 months ago to assist with my “Penile Rehabilitation!” It’s imperative to get fresh blood into the penis to strengthen one’s post surgical recovery and the loss of the once normal “nocturnal erections!” These keep the penis tissue strong and healthy.
It has definitely assisted my recovery and the opportunity to get blood to circulate in, out and throughout my penis along with the number of erections you can facilitate. I’ve recovered about 1/4 inch in length to date.
The entire issue surrounding ED as a result of a Radical Prostatectomy is a very real and challenging side effect for almost every man to deal with.
I am able to achieve about 60% of a normal erection on my own. Not quite strong enough or firm enough for penetration and sexual intercourse. I have managed it a few times but it’s highly unreliable and I never know if I am going to be able to achieve a sufficient, long lasting erection for penetration.
Hence, the Penile Vacuum device can provide you with an adequate erection for penetration in addition to its therapeutic and healing abilities. The normal assortment of pills like VIAGRA, CIALIS and others can as well for many men but have not worked sufficiently for me. I still take them on a regular basis to facilitate increased blood flow to my penis but do not use them to attain erections.
I started utilizing TRIMIX INJECTIONS about 2 months ago and they are fantastic. It’s a combination of 3 different vasodilators. The needle is similar to the one’s that diabetics use to inject insulin. They are very very small and there’s very little pain involved. The quality of erection is fantastic and lasts between 1-2 hours.
So far, I’ve experienced 100% reliability without any of the anxiety that can go along with the other methods and worrying whether or not I am going to achieve a firm enough erection and if it will last long enough etc.
I’ve traveled away from the original subject inquiry regarding loss of penis length. Regardless of how much length you’ve lost in your penis etc, as long as you have sufficient length for sexual intercourse you need to have the other important part of the equation, (a solid erection), to have the physical ability share the special intimacy of sexual intercourse.
There are certainly other avenues to enjoy sexual intimacy with your wife or loved one but most couples prefer penetrative, sexual intercourse if they can achieve it.
Although I had my “PALP” almost a year ago I continue to study and research Prostate Cancer on many subject areas. Not only for my own edification but to be proficient enough and able to share my knowledge and personal experience with other PC Patients to answer their questions and to assist them in any way possible. Others have been there to assist me and I want to be able to do the same and “Pay it Forward!”
Best wishes and good luck,
GODSPEED

I had surgery to remove the little bastar-. It was 2 months ago. Awful. My peter got half as big and like dead. It only pees 200 times a day. Doing Kegel exercises and Pelvic too. If I sit still , no pee, if I get up, pee and pee more, sit down quiet. I take a pill called Minapine. It helps some but it takes time and effort doing those two exercises a day. 3 time a day Kegel, look it up and one time 3 long sets of 30 seconds each of laying down and then putting legs under your butt and hunch in the air and hold it for 30 seconds. I have several friends in the same boat and all got totally normal. No cancer for me so first blood work in Nov. 7 after surgery so if PSA is at 0. I don nothing else but if bumps up any, chit, PMSA Scan and identify any spots where prostate was will get on Lupron for a year to year in a half and if a spot is outside where the prostate was, then targeted Beam Radiation at the spot or spots identified by the PMSA Scan.

ddun1953 I use Myrbetriq for my constant feeling of needing to pee. It was around 25 time during waking hours now down to around 10 to 15 times depending on my day. It is so much better. Before I would only pee half an ounce at a time then still feel the need to go again in 5 minutes. Now when I go it is larger amount and constant feeling of needing to go is mostly gone. Surgery was 6/12/23 for me. After the 2 month period for me thing got better. So you will hopefully see the same soon. Starting trimix injections as soon as medication get to doctors office.

Thanks so much bud. I will get some of Myrbetria.

NO doubt about that. I had radiation, and Eligard. Big time shrinkage!
It's become humorous in conversations with my buddies, but VERY
noticeable. Commenting on Ddun's post, the peeing is endless. For a dentist
appointment, I'll have to force myself into dehydration! Basically drink nothing
that morning. A royal pain.

I am 76 years of age and had 20 rounds of radiation this past December and January plus I am on 18 months of Zoladex. My penis have shrunk quite a bit and the first two shots of hormone shots I got before starting radiation castrated me and the urologist said that I would be finished with sex for life, his words, I just said at this stage as long as I am still 5’ - 10” a o e the grass it doesn’t matter, so the shrinkage isn’t a problem for me but my foreskin is gone wacky and I can’t pull it back anymore, anyone else with this problem?
I have a doctors appointment this week to see what can be done. Circumcision I guess is the next move. On the positive side when I went to the urologist I had psa of 63 and my last checkup about a month ago I was down to .01. Except for some fatigue I’m doing great.

Congrats on the .01. My PSA before radiation was 5.7, it's .02 now.
Yes, the shrinkage is incredible. I had 28 rounds of radiation back in March-April.
Left me with terribly burning for maybe a month. Pretty much gone now.