Radical prostatectomy is a procedure that is often performed on men to remove cancerous prostate tissue after a prostate cancer diagnosis. Approximately 85% of men who undergo the surgery complain of erectile dysfunction (ED) after the procedure. Erectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to achieve and maintain an erection for satisfactory sexual performance. Around 6-8% of men report urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy.
During a nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy, the nerves and blood vessels surrounding the prostate can be damaged during the procedure. This trauma can contribute to the loss of oxygenated blood flow to the penile soft tissue which may further result in damage in the smooth muscles of the penis, thickening fibrosis of the penile tissue, and a decreased ability to hold blood in an erect penis.
If you have recently had a radical prostatecomy and are experiencing issues with erectile dysfunction and/or urinary incontinece, schedule a visit with Fusion Wellness and Physical Therapy today!
Resources
Wong, C., Louie, D. R., & Beach, C. (2020). A Systematic Review of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training for Erectile Dysfunction After Prostatectomy and Recommendations to Guide Further Research. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.01.008
Au, D., Matthew, A. G., Alibhai, S. M., Jones, J. M., Fleshner, N. E., Finelli, A., … Mina, D. S. (2019). Pfilates and Hypopressives for the Treatment of Urinary Incontinence after Radical Prostatectomy: Results of a Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial. PM&R. doi:10.1002/pmrj.12157
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