7 Stareplica.com

Everyone knows the side effects of treatments for prostate cancer such as surgery and radiation treatments can be detrimental to a couples sex life. This is a very serious issue when both parties are at their most vulnerable, suffering from cancer and topping that off with the likely possibility of erectile dysfunction. The good news is a new study finds that the couples counseling has helped men and women to understand what types of treatments for erectile dysfunction has worked for them and how to integrate these methods when engaged in sex.

Researchers recruited more than 200 men who had been treated for prostate cancer along with their wives. One group received face to face counseling sessions, the other with internet consulting, and the third was not given any counseling and placed on a waiting list. During a period of six months, men and women who received the face to face counseling reported improvement in sexual function and gratification. The group that was put on the waiting list reported no improvements in sexual health, suggesting that "time does not cure the problems," said study author Leslie Schover, a professor of behavioral sciences in Houston. This new study is now published in "Cancer", the Sept. 26th online issue.

Unfortunately prostate cancer remains a significant cause of erectile dysfunction, experts say. There are many problems associated with it that cause problems such as decreased intensity of orgasm, pain with orgasm, and leaking urine. While in relationship, personal depression arises, men lose their sense self worth, and couples tend to feel neglected. Dr. Bruce Gilbert, director of sexual medicine, says that many men who have prostate cancer are older, and erectile function might be compromised by the cancer itself or from some other underlying vascular disease. He also says that before the prostatectomy, 100 percent of men suffer from erectile dysfunction after the procedure. Again, these men are older and they may have already had the problem of erectile dysfunction."

Experts doing the "couples counseling" study focused on decision support for couples to find out what treatments to try based on the opinions of each other. Dr. Schover said that if the treatment did not work well with them, he encouraged the couples to look for another choice. After prostate cancer many men try the pills such as Viagra or Cialis for erectile dysfunction, experts say. But they may not be enough. Other options include penile injections, vacuum pumps, and penile implants, but Schover said that she suspects many men give up when they are not getting the results they want and do not continue with other alternatives.

Ideally, patients should begin to "penile rehabilitation", even before treatment, which has been shown to improve outcomes. Urologists should be able to suggest ways to improve erectile function, the experts noted. They suggested that if you do not get all the help you need from your urologist, ask for a referral to a urologist who specializes in sexual medicine, or a mental health professional that deals with issues that result from cancer.