Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Sexual Dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction in men, also known as erectile dysfunction (ED), can develop for many reasons which can be either either a physiological or psychological.
For example, men who have undergone prostate cancer surgery or the removal of the prostate gland can develop sexual dysfunction post-surgery.
Having problems down below is natural and there are ways to manage and overcome sexual dysfunction, even following prostate surgery. With the help of a urologist and the right sexual dysfunction treatment, ED can be resolved easily. You can find help in your area by searching online. Sexual dysfunction treatment Sydney is an example.
Let’s look at some clinical guidelines for managing sexual dysfunction and what treatment options are available.
Table of Contents
- Penile Injection Therapy
- Penile Prosthetic Therapy
- Oral Medications To Overcome ED
- Modify Your Lifestyle To Avoid Or Overcome Sexual Dysfunction
- The Takeaway
Penile Injection Therapy
If you’ve recently undergone prostate surgery (radical prostatectomy surgery) and you are struggling to attain or maintain a satisfying erection, penile injection therapy can help. This therapy must commence within 4 to 6 weeks post-surgery.
How does it work?
Penile injection therapy is a therapy that is usually administered by a trained healthcare professional.
Rather than taking ED meds orally, the medication is injected directly into the base of the penis using a very small and fine needle. After injection, the penis is stimulated and usually achieves a full erection between five and twenty minutes.
Like taking meds, penile injection therapy must be performed each time the patient plans to have sex.
Penile Prosthetic Therapy
Some people refer to this method of counteracting sexual dysfunction as getting an ‘erection on demand’. Penile Prosthetic Surgery basically involves inserting a device that inflates the penis, making it grow long and hard.
To have it done, it requires a minor surgical procedure. Two inflatable tubes are inserted into the penis itself, while a reservoir of hydraulic fluid is also inserted into the body. The last piece of the puzzle is a small pump that is located just below the scrotum.
This is a permanent solution to ED and is recommended for patients with more severe ED issues that can’t be resolved with meds or injection therapy. When the pump is activated, it forces the fluid into the inflatable tubes, and the penis becomes erect.
Oral Medications To Overcome ED
If your sexual dysfunction is not too severe, it can usually be resolved with oral medications prescribed by your urologist. The most common ones are
- Cialis
- Viagra
- Levitra.
After consultation regarding your ED issues, your specialist might put you on oral meds first and see the results. It’s really on a case-by-case basis.
After prostate surgery, the cavernosal nerves may not function again immediately or works only partially. Oral medications are only effective if these nerves are working. This can take up to three months following surgery, so if oral meds are the course of action to overcome ED, you will likely have to wait at least a few months before trying this remedy.
Modify Your Lifestyle To Avoid Or Overcome Sexual Dysfunction
Aside from clinical methods and procedures to resolve sexual dysfunction. Following radical prostatectomy surgery, it’s wise to make some lifestyle changes to improve your general health, as well as bolster your chances of a good and satisfying sexual performance.
If you like to indulge in tobacco products, now would be an ideal time to quit. Keeping your alcohol consumption down to a moderate level will also improve your chances. Naturally, eating a healthy and nutritious diet and getting regular exercise are both going to help ensure your body recovers and functions normally.
Consider adding some vitamins and supplements to your daily routine. Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin B12 have all been shown to have a positive effect on helping patients with ED issues. There is also some sexual performance-enhancing supplements on the market that are made from natural ingredients that you may want to try as well.
The Takeaway
Whether you’ve recently undergone prostate surgery or not, if you’re having problems with sexual dysfunction, make an appointment with a urologist to determine the best way to overcome the problem.
