Saturday, March 23, 2024

Sex After Bladder Cancer Surgery

Must Read

Can I Shower Bathe And Swim With A Urostomy

Common Side Effects and Physical Treatments for Sexual Dysfunction after Bladder Cancer Treatment

A stoma is a one-way door, so waterâs not a problem. You can shower and bathe with or without your pouch. But itâs best not to use bath oils or soaps with moisturizer.

Swimming isnât a problem, either. It helps to:

  • Wear a smaller bag or a waterproof cover when you swim.
  • Wear your pouch, but empty it before you get into the water.
  • Use waterproof tape around the edges of the pouch.
  • Wait a few hours after you put on a new pouch before you swim.

Coping With Infertility After Prostate Surgery

The prostate is one of the only organs in a males body that never stops growing. This growth is slow and continual throughout your life and many doctors dont fully understand why it happens. In some instances, the prostate grows larger than your body can accommodate, and the result is benign prostatic hyperplasia or enlarged prostate. While this isnt life threatening, it can lead to an array of uncomfortable symptoms. There are treatment options for benign prostatic hyperplasia, with the most invasive being surgery. Some men will also develop prostate cancer during their lives. While prostate cancer has one of the highest curability rates, it needs to be diagnosed early so that surgery can eradicate the cancer completely. Regardless of why you need prostate surgery, certain instances can lead to problems such as infertility. In this article, well explore everything you need to know about the prostate and how to cope with infertility after prostate surgery.

For Patients With A Urostomy

If you had a radical cystectomy and now have a urostomy, you might worry even about everyday activities at first. You might have to alter some of your daily routines because of changes in how you urinate. Other issues such as having sex might also cause concerns .

Its normal to have worries and concerns when adjusting to such a major change. But its important to know there are health care professionals who are specially trained to help people with their urostomies. They can teach you to take care of your urostomy and help you cope with the changes it brings. You can also ask the American Cancer Society about programs offering information and support in your area. For more information, see our Urostomy Guide.

Also Check: Feels Like I Have To Pee But Bladder Is Empty

Availability Of Data And Materials

Not applicable.

European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer

EORTC SHQ-22:

European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Sexual health questionnaire – 22

TURBT:

Trans urethral resection of bladder tumour

IFSF:

Index of Female Sexual Function

SHIM:

Sexual Health Inventory for Men

WHO:

World health organisation

Tips For Making Sex More Comfortable

Gallbladder Cancer Treatment Bangalore
  • You have to talk to your partner. Tell them if you are too tired or uncomfortable for intercourse. Use I statements. For example, I love you and want to feel close to you. Id feel better if we cuddle tonight.
  • Kissing, touching, cuddling, or massaging can be intimate and help us feel close to our partner.
  • Ready to try having sex again? Set the mood- what sparked romance for you and your partner before cancer? Music, a romantic meal, or an evening out? Relax and don’t pressure yourselves to have sex. Take your time, enjoy each other, and most of all, talk to each other.
  • Cancer surgery may make some positions painful. Get creative. Try different positions to find what is best for you and your partner. For example, if being on top during penetration is painful, try lying on your sides.
  • Your provider may refer you for pelvic floor physical therapy. This can help rehab the muscles in your pelvis and may make sex more comfortable after treatment.
  • Changes to your appearance can be very hard to cope with. It is okay to set boundaries about where and when touching is ok, wearing clothing during sex, or covering up certain parts. What matters is that you feel comfortable in your own skin. It is also okay to say no or stop at any time. Talk with your partner before sex about how your body has changed and how this makes you feel.

Recommended Reading: What Is Considered An Overactive Bladder

Doctor Visits And Tests

Your schedule of exams and tests will depend on the stage and grade of the cancer, what treatments youve had, and other factors. Be sure to follow your doctors advice about follow-up tests.

Most experts recommend repeat exams every 3 to 6 months for people who have no signs of cancer after treatment. These are done to see if the cancer is growing back or if there’s a new cancer in the bladder or urinary system. Your follow-up plan might include urine tests, physical exams, imaging tests , and blood tests. These doctor visits and tests will be done less often as time goes by and no new cancers are found.

  • If your bladder hasnt been removed, regular cystoscopy exams will also be done every 3 months for at least the first 2 years.
  • If you have a urinary diversion, you will be checked for signs of infection and changes in the health of your kidneys. Urine tests, blood tests, and x-rays might be used to do this. Your vitamin B12 will be checked at least once a year because urinary diversions made with your intestine can affect B12 absorption. Your doctor will also talk to you about how well you’re able to control your urine. Tests will be done to look for signs of cancer in other parts of your urinary tract, too.

Some doctors recommend other lab tests as well, such as the urine tumor marker tests discussed in Can Bladder Cancer Be Found Early? Many of these tests can be used to help see if the cancer has come back, but so far none of these can take the place of cystoscopy.

Effects Of Cancer On Sexual Functioning

Certain types of cancer, such as those that affect organs in the pelvis, may put survivors at risk for problems. These include prostate cancer and cancers of the bladder,colon,or rectum. Men treated for prostate cancer have higher rates of dysfunction–up to 75 to 85 percent.

Sexual functioning challenges can become more common in men as they get older. For example, about half of men without a cancer history will experience erection problems by age 70. This means that older male survivors may experience sexual functioning problems later in life that are not related to cancer or the treatment they received.

Other factors can also affect sexual functioning. For example, men are more likely to develop erectile dysfunction if they are overweight, smoke, or drink heavily. In addition, other health problems like heart disease,high blood pressure,kidney disease or diabetes may also affect a man’s erections.

The emotional effects of cancer may contribute to survivors feeling anxious, depressed or self-conscious. This can also create stress for a partner. In some cases, the result may be challenges with sexual functioning. Working with a licensed mental health professional to deal with these types of emotions is often very helpful.

The following table lists some of the possible causes of sexual dysfunction and issues that can be discussed with your health care team:

Read Also: I Have A Leaky Bladder

Weighing Options: Sex After A Cystectomy

But Ill be honest, from an “in the flow” standpoint, it can be a bit of buzz kill in that you need to stop, get the alcohol out, cotton swabs, trimix from the freezer , get a syringe, fill the syringe, do the injection and then wait about 10 to 20 minutes for full effect.

You will find things that will bring you closer as a couple. Rummy, euchre, checkers, sequence, or even holding hands when you walk the dog. It is in some ways a way to create a different, more intimate relationship.

Can I Do Or Take Anything To Speed Up Nerve Regeneration

Mental Health Side Effects and Treatments for Sexual Dysfunction after Bladder Cancer Treatment

Not all patients want to take a tablet for potency and there is no compulsion to do so. Please do be aware that there are common side-effects associated with this increased blood flow, including headaches, facial flushing and indigestion.

Also Check: Early Detection Of Prostate Cancer Can Be Done Through

Read Also: Recall On Mesh Bladder Slings

When Should I Call My Doctor

Let your doctor know if you think you may have an infection. Also tell them if:

  • You have bleeding from the stoma that doesnât stop with a little pressure.
  • You have pain, cramping, or swelling in your belly.
  • Your pouch leaks regularly or doesnât stay in place.
  • Your skin around the stoma keeps getting red or sore.
  • The stoma turns dark purple, brown, or black.

Outpatient Or Inpatient Surgery

When you are scheduling your surgery, your healthcare provider will tell you whether your surgery can be done as an outpatient, like at a surgical center, or as an inpatient, in the operating room of a hospital.

Typically speaking, outpatient surgery tends to require less healing time. This means it may be safe to have sex within a couple of days or a week.

On the other hand, inpatient surgery tends to be more extensive than outpatient surgery. In this case, returning to sexual activities may mean you need to wait for a few or multiple weeks.

Read Also: Why Does My Bladder Leak When I Cough

Cost Of Enlarged Prostate Treatment Without Insurance

At New York Urology Specialists, we offer affordable treatment for men. Our prices are low for patients without insurance and for those who have high insurance copays, high deductibles, or insurance plans that do not cover treatment costs.

At New York Urology Specialists, we offer a flat-fee all-cost-included Rezum procedure. The procedure is performed in our office under local anesthesia. Men from other states can save thousands of dollars over local hospital fees by coming to New York Urology Specialists for treatment. Please contact us for current prices and discounts for patients without insurance or with high insurance deductibles.

At New York Urology Specialists, we offer a flat-fee all-cost-included Urolift procedure. The procedure is performed in our office under local anesthesia. Men from other states can save thousands of dollars over local hospital fees by coming to New York Urology Specialists for treatment.

Sex After Prostate Surgery

Get Your Enlarged Prostate treated by Dr. Rajkumar Mathur

When first diagnosed with prostate cancer, its common for men to wonder what the future will hold. Certainly, a prostate cancer cure is a top priority, but then what?

Dr. David Samadi understands that men want to know:

  • Will I have sex after prostate cancer?

  • How will sex after prostate cancer be different?

For many men, prostate cancer treatment choice determines these answers.

If you select robotic prostate surgery your chances of enjoying sex after prostate surgery are very high. Robotic prostatectomy is a minimally invasive prostate removal. It is considered one of the best treatment options for prostate cancer due to its success rate and fast recovery rate.

The da Vinci robotic prostate cancer surgery system enables the surgeon to make precise movements. This ensures cancer-removal efficiency and sparing of the nerves and muscles that are responsible for the sexual function.

However, it is absolutely critical to choose a robotic surgeon with a high case volume and extensive prostate surgery experience. The robot does not perform the surgery and technology is no guarantee of success. Enjoying sex after prostate surgery is only possible if the procedure was performed by an experienced, highly-trained robotic surgeon.

Dr. Samadi explains how the preservation of sexual function is possible:

Read Also: Can Men Have Their Prostate Removed

Also Check: What Do Bladder Spasms Feel Like

What Are The Current Expectations With Regard To Outcomes After Radical Prostatectomy

Following a series of anatomical discoveries of the prostate and its surrounding structures about 2 decades ago, changes in the surgical approach permitted the procedure to be performed with significantly improved outcomes. Now after the surgery, expectations are that physical capacity is fully recovered in most patients within several weeks, return of urinary continence is achieved by more than 95% of patients within a few months, and erection recovery with ability to engage in sexual intercourse is regained by most patients with or without oral phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors within 2 years.

Revised Model Of Couples Sexual Recovery After Prostate Cancer Treatment

Based on the findings, we modified our preliminary model . We found that couples experienced not one, but two psychosocial transitions: cancer diagnosis is the first life-altering event, sexual changes after surgery are the second one. Anticipatory grief was reported prior to surgery, while grief related to actual losses was reported after surgery. We discovered that couples capacity to recover sexual intimacy was modified by their pre-existing strengths and vulnerabilities, their capacity to communicate about grief and mourning together and their ability to use positive coping strategies.

Revised Model of Couples Sexual Recovery after Prostate Cancer Treatment

Also Check: Can Bladder Infections Clear Up On Their Own

Comparison Of Sexual Dysfunction Outcome By Treatments And Measurements

Thirty-three studies addressed sexual dysfunction following radical cystectomy, one following radical radiotherapy, one after cystoscopy, and two after other treatments for bladder cancer. There are no studies looking at TURBT only. In four studies , participants were treated with drug therapy for their sexual dysfunction. Twenty-one studies evaluated sexual dysfunction based on validated questionnaires, two with a non-validated questionnaire and 14 through interviewing participants.

How Surgery Can Affect The Sex Life Of Females With Cancer

Methods to Regaining Sexual Function after Bladder Cancer Treatment

Sex is an important part of being in a relationship, but certain types of surgery can cause sexual problems to develop. Managing these issues might involve several different therapies, treatments, or devices, or a combination of them. Counseling can also be helpful.

The information below describes common sexual problems an adult female having certain types of cancer surgery may experience. You can find out about the effects of hormone therapy on specific types of cancers in Cancer A to Z.

If you are a transgender person, please talk to your cancer care team about any needs that are not addressed here.

Recommended Reading: How To Rid A Bladder Infection

How Turbt Is Done

This surgery is done using an instrument put in through your urethra, so there’s no cutting into the abdomen . You’ll get either general anesthesia or regional anesthesia .

A type of thin, rigid cystoscope called a resectoscopeis put into your bladder through your urethra. The resectoscope has a wire loop at the end that’s used to remove any abnormal tissues or tumors. The removed tissue is sent to a lab for testing.

After the tumor is removed, more steps may be taken to try to ensure that the cancer has been completely destroyed. For instance, the tissue in the area where the tumor was may be burned while looking at it with the resectoscope. This is called fulguration. Cancer cells can also be destroyed using a high-energy laser through the resectoscope.

If The Cancer Comes Back

If the cancer does recur at some point, your treatment options will depend on where the cancer is located, what treatments youve had before, and your health. For more information on how recurrent bladder cancer is treated, see Treatment of Bladder Cancer, by Stage.

For more general information on recurrence, you may also want to see Understanding Recurrence.

Read Also: Uti Or Bladder Infection Treatment

Cancer Treatments And Erectile Dysfunction

Following surgery, many men experience erectile dysfunction , but for many, the disruption is temporary. Nerves damaged during surgery may result in erectile dysfunction. A nerve-sparing prostatectomy may reduce the chances of nerve damage. Another factor is the surgeons skill level for performing the nerve-sparing technique, which if done correctly, may improve patients likelihood of retaining erectile function, says Dr. Shelfo.

Prostate cancer may also be treated with various types of radiation therapybrachytherapy, external beam radiation or stereotactic body radiation therapy. Each type of therapy causes somewhat different side effects. About half of all prostate cancer patients who undergo any of these types of radiation therapy are likely to develop erectile dysfunction, according to a 2016 article published in Advances in Radiation Oncology.

Palliative Or Supportive Care

When does a Patient Require a Rezum Procedure?

If your cancer is at an advanced stage and can’t be cured, your medical team should discuss how the cancer will progress and which treatments are available to ease the symptoms.

You can be referred to a palliative care team, who can provide support and practical help, including pain relief.

Page last reviewed: 01 July 2021 Next review due: 01 July 2024

You May Like: Why Do Cats Get Bladder Infections

Life Course And Partner Centered Sexual Dysfunction

Patients with bladder cancer managed with cystectomy may experience changes in both relationships and life priorities. Mansson studied post operative adjustments in patients after cystectomy, and found that although relationships with friends were unchanged, relationships with spouse or partner were disturbed by sexual problems.51 Somani and colleagues interviewed 32 patient pre and post cystectomy to identify the most important factors contributing to quality of life. In their study patients consistently noted family, relationships, health, and finance as important determinants of quality of life.52 Thus social and life course factors play an important role in patient quality of life and should therefore be addressed during patient counseling. Partner response to the presence of an external appliance, stoma or catheterizable channel may also strain intimate relationships and contribute to a dysfunctional sex life. Although partner response and repulsion has been better studied among patients with colostomies, the partners view and response to an altered body after cystectomy may also limit intimacy and interest in sexual activities.53

More articles

Popular Articles