Is there any sexual function after prostate cancer surgery?

  The most effective treatment for prostate cancer without metastasis is radical surgery, in which the prostate and seminal vesicles are completely removed through laparoscopic surgery. This used to be a very difficult surgery, and postoperative complications such as urinary incontinence are common, and sexual function is gone; however, with the continuous development of science, surgical techniques are also advancing, and if the cancer is found to be in the early to middle stage through imaging and pathological examination, radical prostate surgery with preservation of nerves can be done, preserving the vascular nerve bundle outside the intrinsic fascia of the patient’s prostate intact, preserving sexual function, preserving a good sphincter, and The procedure can be performed to preserve the sexual function and sphincter to avoid urinary incontinence; however, if the tumor is advanced in stage or has invaded the vascular nerve bundle and seminal vesicles, the surgeon will not “preserve” the surgery because of sexual function.  The probability of restoring sexual function after surgery is certainly not 100% due to the different age, degree of disease and anatomy of each patient. Similar to the international treatment results, we can generally restore erectile function in 60% to 70% of patients one year after surgery, among which the younger the patient is and the earlier the pathological stage, the higher the probability of recovery.  If the tumor is small and the surgery goes well, the fastest patients can even regain erection immediately after surgery, while the longest ones have to wait for one to two years. We also often advise patients to take PDE5 inhibitors (Viagra) to maintain the vascular structure of the penile corpus cavernosum, improve blood perfusion, and improve erections, and this drug will not cause prostate cancer to recur or worsen. If you cannot get an erection after six months to a year, you should be examined as soon as possible. Your doctor will evaluate you with the special erectile function assessment scale (IIEF-5), and if you meet the criteria for severe erectile dysfunction, you will also have to be treated aggressively. Because the penis does not have erection for a long time, the vascular structure will atrophy, and it will be difficult to restore the function with the use of the in and out.  Finally, patients are advised to do some anal lifting exercises every day after surgery, which can promote urinary control as well as the recovery of sexual function.