Erection problems

Trouble getting or keeping an erection firm enough for intercourse is called erectile dysfunction or impotence. While the quality of erections usually declines with age, it can also be affected by worrying about the cancer or damage to the nerves during surgery or radiation therapy.

Erectile dysfunction can sometimes improve. There are also many products to treat the problem, including penile injection therapy, penile implants and PDE5 inhibitor drugs (e.g. Cialis or Viagra), available by prescription. There are also herbal preparations, nasal sprays and lozenges that contain testosterone, but check with your treatment team before using any of these.

Learn more about:

• Tips for dealing with erection problems
• Ways to improve erections

Tips for dealing with erection problems

• Help keep erectile tissue healthy while nerves heal from surgery by engaging in foreplay and other sexual activity with your partner.
• Try having sex with a half-erect penis. This may work best with the partner on top guiding the penis inside. This stimulation may encourage further and better erections.
• Help satisfy your partner and yourself without sexual penetration. Experiment with all-over touching, oral sex, masturbation or sex aids.
• Ask your doctor about other ways to improve erections, such as tablets or injections, or get a referral to a specialist.
• If your cancer specialists say it is safe to use with your type of cancer, you could consider testosterone replacement therapy. This may help if you have low testosterone levels.

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Ways to improve erections

There are several medical options available for trying to improve the quality of your erections. Ask your treatment team for more details about these methods.

	Vacuum erection device A vacuum erection device (VED) or vacuum pump device uses suction to draw blood into the penis to make it firm and help maintain a natural erection.
	Penile injection therapy This has to be prescribed by a doctor. You will be taught to inject the penis with medicine that makes blood vessels in the penis expand and fill with blood, causing an erection. The erection usually lasts 30-60 minutes.
	Implants A penile prosthesis is inserted during surgery. Flexible rods or thin, inflatable cylinders are placed in the penis and connected to a pump in the scrotum. The pump is turned on or squeezed when an erection is desired.