SEXUAL PROBLEMS AFTER PROSTATECTOMY AND OTHER PROCEDURES
The good news is that,/or most men, surgery for BPH has no effect on sexual function or performance. One aftereffect of prostatectomy that may take some getting used to is a phenomenon called “dry,” or retrograde, ejaculation. It’s pretty much what it sounds like— semen is not expelled out the urethra when a man reaches sexual climax. Instead, it goes the other way—back into the bladder. This happens because part of the bladder neck is usually resected along with the prostate tissue, so the bladder neck does not contract at the time of ejaculation—and there’s nothing to prevent semen from heading in that direction. For most men, this does not alter the pleasant sensation of orgasm. Also, having semen in the bladder does no harm; it is eliminated from the body the next time a man urinates.
This “dry” ejaculation is the most common sexual side effect, and it has nothing to do with a man’s ability to have an erection or to reach a sexual climax. If you are not planning to father children, this is nothing to worry about.
Some 10 to 15 percent of men who have BPH surgery report problems with impotence, or difficulty with erections. Even this does not have to be a permanent problem. There are many options to help men with impotence (see Chapter 8), now more than ever before.
*264\201\8*
