It goes without saying that after radical prostate surgery following a diagnosis of prostate cancer, taking care of your penis will be important, as will your urinary catheter which will be in place for about a week.

Medical review by endo-urologist Dr Malek Meskawi on 08/08/2022

Reminder post-radical surgery

Normally, when you get home, it is normal to have some swelling or bruising (bruising) around the sores. These reactions will disappear over time. The scrotum and penis may also be swollen and discolored. They usually return to their normal appearance over time. To reduce swelling, you can apply an ice pack to it. When you’re sitting or lying down, place a balled-up towel under the scrotum to elevate it and reduce swelling.

With regard to the hygiene of your penis, we take care to wash it every day with soapy water and after rinsing, we remove the excess water by patting it gently with a towel.

Resuming your sexual activities

You can have stressful sexual intercourse from the end of the 3rd week after surgery. Do not have vigorous intercourse before the 6th week. If you have erection medication, you can take it as prescribed by your surgeon. The fact remains that a certain understanding and vigilance go hand in hand for a healthy penis. Let’s take a closer look.

First of all, what does a normal penis look like?

Whether circumcised or not, penises vary in length, thickness and color. They may look bumpy in places or point in different directions – “mine wears left while his wears right…”. So, unless your doctor tells you otherwise, your penis is probably normal.

The bigger the erection, the better my partner’s orgasm will be

According to several studies , the normal size of an erect penis is around 5 inches (13.1 centimeters). In addition, studies have shown that the question of satisfaction with penis size is not perceived in the same way by men and by their partner. While more than one in two men are convinced that they have a small penis, women, on the other hand, were mostly satisfied with the size of their partner’s penis: men are therefore often wrongly complex!

In the presence of erectile dysfunction

In the presence of erectile dysfunction, it is important to know that a man can have an orgasm without an erection. After treatment for prostate cancer, many men emphasize the need to continue having intimate relationships with their partners, despite their inability to have penetrative relationships. It should be understood that erection is not a panacea. Touching, kissing, holding hands, talking to each other for a long time, and being together can be deeply satisfying and even more important in a relationship. This is an aspect of intimacy that should not be forgotten.

Penis health requires good lifestyle habits

As the years add up, taking care of your penis also requires adopting a healthy lifestyle: controlling your weight and your cardiovascular risk factors, including the risk of diabetes thanks to a diet of healthy food and regular physical activity guarantees good oxygenation of your tissues. Reviewing your alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, and medication intake with your doctor would also be a good idea.

Protect your penis

If you are sexually active, it is important to choose the right condom: the quality, the size and an important element… wearing it to protect yourself from a sexually transmitted infection! Not only is it important to choose the right size condom, but also make sure it hasn’t expired and has been stored in a cool, dry place. Also, be sure to use it correctly so as not to damage it.

If you use a penis pump or penile injections, take the time to read the instructions for use carefully, so as not to hurt your penis. Seek advice from a healthcare professional if you have any questions.

When to consult

If there is pain, inflammation or swelling, a rash or pustule on or around your penis, or a discharge (fluid) from your meatus (the end of your penis), seek medical attention. The same is true if you have blood in your semen that is not reabsorbing.

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Take the time to visit each of our pages on this website, as well as our YouTube channel, in order to get familiar with the disease, our expert lectures and webinars, our section on available resources, the support that is offered to you, our events and ways to get involved in advancing the cause.

You have questions or concerns? Don’t hesitate. You can chat with us or contact us at 1-855-899-2873 to discuss with one of our nurses specialized in uro-oncology. They are there to listen, support and answer your questions, as well as those of your family or loved ones. It’s simple and free, like all of our other services.

Webinar to review
Prostate Cancer: Your test preparation, procedures and results
Biopsy, understand your report

Pages of our site that might interest you
Want to know more? Just click on the link below.
Coping with prostate cancer

PROCURE blog articles that might interest you
Every week we publish a blog article. Here are some for you.
States of prostate cancer post-treatment
If I had been given the choice
Why am I not receiving any treatment?

Written by PROCURE. © All rights reserved – 2022