This surgery involves an incision in either the abdomen or the scrotum area. There is no incision with this method. New nerve-sparing surgical procedures may prevent permanent injury to the nerves that control erection, and damage to the opening of the bladder. However, possible complications and side effects of prostate cancer surgery still exist. Normal control returns for many patients within several weeks or months after surgery, although some patients become permanently incontinent.
Impotence is the inability to have an erection of the penis.
For a month, or so, after surgery, most men are not able to get an erection. Eventually, approximately 40 to 60 percent of men will be able to get an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse, but without ejaculation of semen, since removal of the prostate gland prevents that process. This effect on a man's ability to achieve an erection is related to the stage of the cancer and the patient's age. However, most men who have this surgery should expect some decrease in their ability to have an erection. For men who are completely impotent after surgery, several solutions are available.