Does radiation therapy for prostate cancer cause erectile dysfunction?

Yes, radiation for prostate cancer can cause erectile dysfunction (ED) for various reasons. Learn more from Sangtae Park, MD, about radiation for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction.

Transcript

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SANGTAE PARK: Does radiation for prostate cancer cause erectile dysfunction? [GENTLE MUSIC]

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The answer is yes. There are about two or three risk factors. Firstly, prostate cancer occurs in older men

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in their 50s and 60s. So a lot of men already have underlying erectile dysfunction, and some men require Viagra or other drugs

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to augment their erections. And then when you get radiation to cure your prostate cancer,

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the nerves for erection travel just millimeters away from the prostate. And because you want to radiate the prostate

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to cure the cancer, the nerves are also irradiated, and they can cause nerve injury.

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And when the nerves are injured, the erections do not work very well. Secondly, the base of the penis is located just right next

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to the apex of the prostate. So with good radiation to cure cancer, the base of the penis

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receives a lot of radiation, also. And that's where the blood vessels for erection actually enter the penis, so erectile dysfunction

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does occur with radiation. [AUDIO LOGO]