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Are you experiencing dry orgasm after prostate cancer treatments?
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.
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This is a common SE with most BPH surgeries. Not surprising that radiation to the prostate would cause it as well. Since there are two types/sources of fluid that make up the ejaculate it's possible that one or both of them have been affected.
The glandular tissue in the prostate itself makes 30% of the ejaculate while the seminal vesicles make the remaining 70%. Radiation could cause the ejaculatory ducts that carry fluid from the seminal vesicles to the apex of the prostate via the verumontanum to be "welded shut" on one or both sides. This could account for either 35% or 70% of the ejaculate never making it to the verumontaum and the apical end of the urethra.
Similarly, the glandular tissue that supplies the remaining 30% of the fluid could be damaged and be unable to produce and/or convey the fluid to the apical urethra.
A third potential cause of anejaculation is the muscular tissue or nerves controlling it surrounding the veru in the apical end of the prostate is damaged, causing the inability of the muscular tissue to "squeeze it out."
I think it is very unlikely you'd be able to recover that functionality of the prostate once it is lost.
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4 Reactionsjc76, Kishan mentioned that it was definitely an issue to get accustomed to, but I'd never heard of it. We were talking about the protecting the urethra.
I read 70% with radiation but that was a 2013 study.
There is a situation called retrograde ejaculation which results from damage to the urethral valve. I think that valve has to be closed for ejaculate to traverse the penis.
Sometimes the cause is medications which can be altered. Sometimes nerve damage, but mainly I think it's lack of fluid production in the prostate.
Still on ADT. No experience, yet.
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Thanks,
Do you know if something that is an issue medically? I can deal with it versus having prostrate cancer. I just did not hear a lot about it but I see you mention common. Can I asked if you had the same side effect or were just asking Dr. Kishan?
It was a shock and remember seeing something about it but could not remember the details. I hope to find out if this is something that improves or is a permament side effect of the radiation.
jc76, thanks for asking this question. Kishan at UCLA said that dry organism are something that take getting use to. And I was too timid to ask. They are common because the prostate produces fluid that propels sperm through the penis. Since we pretty much evicerate the prostate gland with radiation if we don't remove it, we might not have much recourse. I have read that some medications make it worse. And I read somewhere that they are having some success with stem cell implants in the prostate gland. I wanted to ask Kishan if they are painful or just not as pleasurable. I'll be looking for better responses than mine.
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