Enlarged Prostate and Erectile Dysfunction

Can an enlarged prostate produce erectile dysfunction?

Yes. An enlarge prostate or BPH can affect your sex life and cause sexual problems in men. Erectile dysfunction is one of them. It is the inability to obtain and maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse at least 25% of the time. Another problems are:

Reduced sex drive

Decreased sexual satisfaction

Sudden onset of erectile dysfunction (ED) may be a sign of prostate cancer and needs medical evaluation. Erectile dysfunctions may also occur after the therapy for prostate cancer including surgery, radiotherapy, and hormonal therapy.

Erectile dysfunction or ejaculation problems can occur in men with enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate. Sexual dysfunction with enlarge prostate usually results from the treatment rather than the disease. Medications for BPH, such as the antitestosterone drugs, have been associated with erectile dysfunction in 3.7% of men who use it. Also are linked with decreased sexual desire in 3.3% men. Other medications for enlarged prostate, such as terazosin (Hytrin), tamsulosin (Flomax), and doxazosin (Cardura), can improve BPH symptoms with a lower risk of sexual side effects.

Surgical procedures for enlarged prostate, such as the transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), are often used when medications fail. Erectile dysfunction can occur because of TURP in a small percentage of men. In open surgeries for enlarged prostate the problem is the Retrograde ejaculation which occurs when semen enters the bladder instead of emerging through the urethra during orgasm. Although you still reach sexual climax, you might ejaculate very little or no semen. This is sometimes called a dry orgasm. Retrograde ejaculation isn't harmful, but it can cause male infertility

What causes prostate enlargement?

The prostate gland or prostate is an important part of the male reproductive system. It produces fluid that carries sperm during ejaculation. The prostate gland is situated just below the bladder and in front of the rectum (the last part of the large bowel). It surrounds the urethra (the tube through which urine passes out of the body). It is roughly the size of a walnut.

The causes of prostate enlargement are not well understood. Research suggests that aging and changes in the cells of the testicles may play some role in the enlargement of the prostate. This is supported by the fact that males, who got their testicles removed at a young age because of reasons like testicular cancer, do not get BPH). Furthermore, in males with BPH, removal of the testicles causes the prostate to shrink in size. Removal of testicles, however, is not done to treat an enlarged prostate since there are several other safe and effective treatment options. The probabilities of having an enlarged prostate increase with age. In several men over 40 years of age, a small amount of prostate enlargement is present. The condition, however, affects over 90% of the men over 80 years of age.