Ability to reach orgasm following prostate surgery

The authors aimed to determine a patient’s ability to reach orgasm after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) based on demographics, cancer-related and surgical variables, and erectile aids.

The authors concluded that men could reach orgasm an average of 3 years after RALP. Poor orgasmic ability was associated with men who were older, had poor erectile function and a reduced quality of life. Erectile aids also increased the rate of good ability to achieve orgasm.

Prostate surgery is the surgical removal of the prostate gland. Following this procedure, patients may experience urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction and a general decline in sexual function. Robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) is a relatively new procedure used to surgically remove the prostate gland. This involves keyhole (or minimal access) surgery using robotic assistance to remove the prostate, seminal vesicles (tube-like glands which make semen) and occasionally lymph nodes. It uses a number of small incisions to access the diseased organ.

Further research is needed to determine the benefit of RALP in achieving orgasm in men with prostate cancer. 

The aim of this study was to determine a patient’s ability to reach orgasm after RALP based on demographics, cancer-related and surgical variables, and erectile aids.

609 men completed a survey on ability to reach orgasm after RALP. The survey was conducted an average of 3 years following RALP. Overall, 167 men (27%) reported good ability to reach orgasm and 442 men (73%) reported poor ability to reach orgasm. Poor ability to reach orgasm was associated with an older age, reduced quality of life, and erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction in particular was associated with 4.86 times the odds of poor ability to orgasm.

317 men did not use erectile aids. Of these, 78% had poor ability to reach orgasm, 87% had erectile dysfunction and 74% had both. Of the 292 men who did not use erectile aids, 66% had poor ability to reach orgasm, 62% had erectile dysfunction and 50% had both.

The authors concluded that some men could reach orgasm an average of 3 years after RALP. Poor orgasmic ability was associated with men who were older, had poor erectile function and a reduced quality of life. Erectile aids also increased the rate of good ability to achieve orgasm.