Sex in a man with an enlarged prostate

The article was professionally consulted by MSc Vo Thien Ngon - Urologist, Vinmec International Hospital Da Nang.

Prostate enlargement is one of the diseases that cause many inconveniences to middle-aged men and older and tends to be younger. Patients with prostatic hyperplasia may have some difficulty having sex.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition that occurs when the prostate gland in men becomes too large for normal. This puts pressure on the urethra, causing the surrounding muscles to contract, causing difficulty in passing urine and other bladder and kidney problems. Prostate hyperplasia is common in men aged 50 years and older.
Patients with an enlarged prostate may have problems with sex. However, there are treatments that can help.
There have been many studies showing a link between benign prostatic hyperplasia and erectile dysfunction. Men with an enlarged prostate often have difficulty maintaining an erection. In contrast, patients with erectile dysfunction often have a higher risk of prostate hyperplasia than healthy men.

Patients with an enlarged prostate often experience symptoms including:
Frequent need to urinate Difficulty controlling urine flow Weak urine Symptoms of the disease can cause patients to have trouble sleeping at night. Scientists believe that the worse the symptoms, the more likely the patient is to have sexual problems such as:
Decreased sex drive Difficulty maintaining an erection of the penis Decreased penis size Sexual satisfaction This condition can be related to genetics, age, insomnia or stress, anxiety, making sex problems worse.

Some risk factors for prostate enlargement and erectile dysfunction are the same as those for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, especially an unhealthy lifestyle. So, by building a reasonable diet and exercising regularly, patients can prevent sexual problems.
A scientific diet requires patients to avoid processed foods, and at the same time increase the addition of natural foods such as green vegetables and fruits. Fatty fish like salmon and mackerel are good sources of anti-inflammatory and omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for heart and blood vessel health. Vegetables like broccoli, kale, and cauliflower are good for the prostate.
To overcome difficulties in having sex with your partner, it is important to have a communication relationship between the two of you. Many patients tend to keep their medical condition a secret from their sexual partners. However, if your partner can understand your symptom and work through it together, it could be better for your relationship and your health.

Patients can treat prostate hyperplasia and improve erections at the same time with erectile dysfunction drugs. Men with prostate enlargement who take these medications daily will gradually improve their symptoms.
However, erectile dysfunction drugs are not for everyone. Many patients will need an additional treatment regimen for an enlarged prostate. Furthermore, if the patient has a history of heart attack, stroke, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or unstable angina, drugs for erectile dysfunction should not be used.

Some treatments for an enlarged prostate can have sex-related side effects. Two drugs with a mechanism of action, alpha blockers and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, were formerly used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, both of these drugs have undesirable effects that affect the ability to have sex.
If 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors are used, patients may experience side effects such as:
Erectile dysfunction Decreased libido Decreased semen release For alpha channel blockers, on the other hand, is associated to problems with ejaculation. However, there are two new drugs in the class, alfuzosin and terazosin, that may have less of an impact on fertility than older drugs. Potential interactions occur between erectile dysfunction drugs and alpha blockers. Therefore, patients should fully disclose their current medications to their doctor before starting a new treatment plan.
If the patient is taking medication for prostate hyperplasia and notices sexual problems, report this to the doctor so that the medication can be changed.

Surgery can help with symptoms of an enlarged prostate, but it can lead to long-term complications, affecting your ability to have sex.
A common technique commonly used in the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy is Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). This technique removes excess prostate tissue that puts pressure on the urethral canal. However, TURP can affect the ability to ejaculate and cause erectile dysfunction.
Currently, there are 2 new types of surgery that are applied, which are less invasive and cause less side effects on the ability to have sex, which are:
Transurethral incision of the prostate - TUIP): An incision is made in the prostate gland under endoscopic guidance. Transurethral microwave heat treatment (TUMT): A small microwave antenna device is inserted through the tip of the penis, into the area of ​​the urethra surrounded by an enlarged prostate gland. Here, the antenna will emit heating energy, thereby destroying excess prostate tissue. A new method applied in the treatment of prostatic hyperplasia is prostatic urethroplasty. This is a minimally invasive option, through the placement of a stent into the urethra to widen this area, effectively improving the symptoms related to the urinary tract. This method not only helps to improve the symptoms of prostate enlargement, but also preserves sexual function.
After minimally invasive and surgical treatment of prostatic hyperplasia, the doctor will continue to monitor the progress of the disease for a certain period of time. At this time, patients need to limit lifting heavy objects and excessive activities to avoid affecting the treatment effect and causing damage to this organ.
At Vinmec International General Hospital, there is a package of urological examination and screening to help detect the possibility of urinary diseases early. Especially prostate diseases (benign prostatic hypertrophy, prostate cancer)... thereby helping customers to take preventive measures.
The examination and screening process is performed by a team of leading experts with many years of working experience in the field of urology. Leading modern ultrasound machine system, with flat transducer, high frequency, HD resolution for clear images, accurate lesion detection. Advanced laboratory system of international standards....

Reference source: Webmd.com