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Posted 3/11/2008 8:50 PM (GMT 0)
For the life of me I can not figure out what happens to the sex drive when they remove the prostste
Posted 3/11/2008 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
I thought it was just me!

Posted 3/11/2008 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
Yep, me too although testosterone replacement theropy has helped. Have you guys had your testosterone levels checked? Although there may be many reasons my "T" dropped through the floor, I still beleive part of it was do to my surgery. I've read that one cause could be trama to the testicles and mine were black & blue and the size of baseballs post surgery! After fighting Urologists for a while, I found one willing to write a perscription as long as I knew the risks. Swim, Biker Jim and I wrote many, many posts on the subject a little over a year ago. I've been using it for aprox. 16 months and still am getting zerro's on my PSA tests. I suggest you have yours checked. At least you can rule it out if yours is normal. Good luck.
Your friend,
Pete
Posted 3/12/2008 11:28 AM (GMT 0)
What I want to know is why does it drop. If you get a vasectomy, does your level of sex drive fall? This gland is just the juice gland. How does that effect sex drive?
Posted 3/12/2008 12:15 PM (GMT 0)
Here is the answer. The prostate makes stuff that is 5 times more potent than testosterone. We ani't got it, we don't get it.

Most testosterone (97%) circulates in the bloodstream bound to one of two proteins, either sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) or albumin. A small percentage of testosterone (2–3%) remains unbound and it is the unbound form of testosterone that is thought to affect the glandular cells of the prostate gland.

Free testosterone passes through the prostate cell membrane where it is metabolised to DHT by the enzyme 5 alpha-reductase. DHT is 2.5 times more potent as a male sex hormone than testosterone. DHT binds to androgen receptors (AR) within the glandular cells. The complex of AR with DHT then targets, within the cell nucleus, specific DNA sequences known as androgen response elements, that activate cell functions, including growth and proliferation (Figure 1.9).

I found it here.
http://www.cancerline.com/cancerlinehcp/9898_12053_6_1_3.aspx
Posted 3/12/2008 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
Weird, I was just talking to my wife about this last night. She lost her drive after menopause plus her her having scleroderma hadn't helped and well mine is just gone. It real sucks being 44 and no drive but since she doesn't have it I figure it might be good that I don't either otherwise I'd be bugging the crap out of her. Though I do miss my friend. :-)
Posted 3/12/2008 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
Regarding DHT mentioned in wd40's link, the article discusses the role of DHT within the prostate cells. Although it may be "2.5 times more potent as a male sex hormone than testosterone", this may be in relation to its function within the prostate only. I'm not sure that one can conclude from this that DHT controls sex drive. I interpret it as a byproduct of testosterone used internal to prostate cells.

To add to the poll, I have personally not seen any difference in sex drive after surgery. my general "horny" cycles seem to be exactly the same as prior to surgery.

Posted 3/12/2008 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
I have checked my testosterone, and it is within "normal" levels, though at the lower end. I have stayed away from being treated for that as some say it can encourage prostate cells to grow faster, bringing a recurrence of the disease faster. That's the last thing I need.

Those issues aside, I'm sure the drop in sex drive is partially due to the complications. It's hard to be horny when you have to use a pump to slap some tight rubber bands on what will be a short-lived rubbery erection, or when you have to stick a needle in your dick. Add to that the loss of spontaneity and difficulties in achieving orgasm, and the fact that while semen no longer comes out, urine does at the most inopportune times. M*asturbation and sex used to be at least much easier, now it requires effort and planning, and the chance of success or satisfaction seems much lower. I haven't given up yet, but I could hardly blame someone else that strongly considers it.
Posted 3/13/2008 12:56 PM (GMT 0)
Just to add to the poll,
I have no change in my sex drive, the problem is I'm driving on a Dead End Street.
Best,
Mike
Posted 3/13/2008 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
I had a good conversation with my doctor yesterday about this very subject. He made it perfectly clear it was all in the mind in terms of sex drive. He said when the prostate is removed it physically doesn't alter sex drive but it can diminish sex drive form a minds point of view. he pointed to my wife and said you have a lot to do with the sex drive than you think. "Get a hulla skirt or something," he said and we all laughed. The bottom line seems like is you have to push the erotic button as hard as you can. I think you almost have to say to yourself what will make me the most horny to make your body respond. Kind of like sex drive therapy. SDT, I like that better than ED. yeah

I asked him about the pump, pills and shots. He thought the pump offered little advantage in his experience and thought it a bit early to do anything other than experiment with the pills every few weeks to see what happens. He said lets see how things are in six months postop. Bottom line, is there seems to be no predictor on who will make the most recovery and who want.
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