Treatments for incontinence may involve drugs, surgery or the Kegel exercise, which involves alternate tightening and relaxing of the muscles at the base of the pelvis. In addition, there are several products now available to help men deal with incontinence in a way that minimizes the chance of accidents and allows them to continue their normal activities. The second major complication that often results from many of the more common treatments for prostate cancer is erectile dysfunction or impotence. Two of the nerve bundles closely associated with erection are located just outside the top portion of the prostate gland. Therefore, loss of sexual function is a very common side effect of surgery.
Hormonal manipulation can also typically result in a loss of libido.
However, due to new nervesparing techniques often used in surgical treatments, erectile dysfunction is being more commonly avoided. For those who do experience impotence, there is help. There are a number of devices and medications that can help you cope, including penile implants, non-surgical devices including external vacuums, and infections. Nevertheless, because such problems occur frequently in prostate cancer patients, men who are still interested in child bearing may want to take measures to store their sperm before beginning treatment. It is important not to be ashamed or afraid to talk to your physician about these and other side effects of treatment.