Orgasms after prostate cancer treatment—are they different?

But some men say that their climax feels different than before treatment for prostate cancer. If they have had surgery for prostate cancer, they may also miss the feeling of sperm being ejaculated during climax.

Some men also complain about lack of sensation, which may actually be more related to things like stress, performance anxiety, and age.

As men (and women) age, areas of sexual sensation may change. This doesn’t mean that you have to give up on sex, but you may need to explore to see if there are other areas on and around the penis (such as with touching exercises) that respond better to stimulation.

Although many couples might think otherwise, researchers believe that orgasms are actually controlled by the brain. This is why a man’s emotions—including fear of not being able to perform—may also play a role in a man’s climax after prostate cancer.

It may be harder for a man to achieve climax after treatment for prostate cancer, and we know of some men who say their climaxes are less intense, but seem to last longer. Men may be more likely to experience a decrease in intensity, as evidenced by a study of 239 men who had retropubic radical prostatectomy. In this study, only 4% of men experienced more intense orgasms, while 37% of men reported that they had a decreased intensity after surgery.

Some men may even experience pain during climax, which is a medical term called dysorgasmia. This pain appears to happen more commonly after surgery for prostate cancer, but it can also happen after radiation treatment. Doctors believe it may have to do with pelvic floor muscle spasms. Fortunately this kind of pain tends to be mild and generally doesn’t last very long, but there are some men who may have more severe pain that lasts much longer.

If your loved one has pain when he climaxes, it may encourage you to know that this pain is expected to decrease over time. But if the pain is very uncomfortable—or it is keeping your loved one from wanting to have sex—you can encourage him to ask his doctor about medications to treat the pain.

Always discuss everything you read on this web site with a qualified medical professional.

Updated 10/11

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Mulhall JP. Saving Your Sex Life. Chicago, IL: Hilton Publishing Company;2008.