Cancer and Sexual Dysfunction in Men

Where can I find out more about male sexual dysfunction?
For more information about male sexual dysfunction, including suggestions for taking action and a list of resources, visit the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Why is knowing about the male sexual dysfunction important to a man affected by cancer?
Cancer and its treatment can affect many different aspects of your life. One area of your life that might have changed is your ability to have or enjoy sex like you did before cancer. These changes are sometimes referred to as sexual dysfunction caused by cancer or its treatment.

What do I need to know about male sexual dysfunction?
There are many different causes for sexual dysfunction in cancer survivors. Some are physical causes and some are caused by changes in how you feel about yourself, your body or other aspects of your life.

There are certain types of cancer, like those that affect your sexual organs that put you at risk for sexual dysfunction after cancer. Men treated for prostate cancer have much higher rates of sexual dysfunction, up to 75% or 85%. Sexual dysfunction is most common in men whose tumors were in the pelvic area, including prostate cancer, and cancers of the bladder, colon, or rectum.

Different types of sexual dysfunction in male survivors can result from:
• A drop in a man’s testosterone levels (the hormone made in the testicles) during hormone therapy for prostate cancer
• Damage to areas of the brain by cancer or its treatments
• Radiation to the pelvic area (prostate, bladder, colon, groin or penis)
• Surgery removing pelvic organs such as the prostate, seminal vesicles, areas of the colon or the penis
• High doses of chemotherapy may damage sexual desire or erections
• Side effects of medicines to treat pain, nausea, depression or anxiety

Generally, sexual dysfunction becomes more common in men as they get older. Half of men without a cancer history will experience erection problems by age 70. This means that older male survivors may experience sexual dysfunction later in life that isn’t related to their cancer or their treatment. Men are also more likely to develop erectile dysfunction if they are overweight, smoke, or drink heavily, or if they have health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes.

What steps should I take to address male sexual dysfunction?
There are many different treatment options that may help you with your sexual dysfunction. But if you think that sexual dysfunction is interfering with your ability to enjoy life after cancer, talk to your health care team about what you are experiencing. Ask for a longer appointment with your doctor so you will have time to bring up sensitive questions. Sexual dysfunction may not go away on its own. Your health care team can help you learn more about the treatment options available and how to improve your ability to have and enjoy sex again.

Sometimes treatments do not work and your sexual dysfunction may continue to affect you. This can be very frustrating and upsetting for both survivors and their partners. Intercourse is only one way of sharing pleasure and closeness with your partner. Some survivors who can’t have sex find they still enjoy cuddling and caressing their partner. You might want to try other ways of sharing pleasure and feeling closeness with your partner.