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Are you not supposed to have sex before a post-op PSA test?

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Posted 10/1/2014 7:22 AM (GMT 0)
I know you're not supposed to have sex 72 hours before a screening PSA test. Does that rule apply to post-op PSA tests too? Or does it not make a difference once the prostate is removed?

Thanks,
Melaine
Posted 10/1/2014 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
Without the prostate the abstinence is not needed.   I suggest you have all the sex you want!!
Posted 10/1/2014 1:30 PM (GMT 0)
After Radiation, it could make a difference. After surgery, no prostate remains, so not an issue.
Posted 10/1/2014 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
My regular doctor and my specialist both tell me to abstain for 24 hrs prior to doing my psa test. And this is 6 and half years after my surgery.
Posted 10/1/2014 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
As far as the PSA check there should be no impediment. Since he is only five weeks out of surgery you should follow his surgeons guidelines as to the limits to the athleticism for the activity. With apologies to Sia, if he wants to swing from the chandelier that might be a bad idea, just now.

I think I speak for a fair number of us here in saying that, if your question is at all motivated, and not just academic, we are a bit envious of his recovery and we hate him, just a tiny bit...
Posted 10/1/2014 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the responses everyone. We've put in a call to the surgeon but haven't heard back yet. DH's first post-op PSA test was supposed to be this morning but now will be on Friday to be safe.

Peter: I wish there were something to envy. Not having sex yet--haven't even tried. But DH did mast*rbate yesterday. And, actually, that's a question for another thread since DH is afraid of me. (His words, not mine.)

Anyway, read lots of conflicting info when I did an internet search. Some say you don't need to abstain and some, like Rusty, say to abstain. So we're just going to be cautious this time around.

Thanks again!
Posted 10/1/2014 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
Melanie,

Do let me know if ever I offend. Much of this stuff is a laugh or cry proposition for most men and since crying has its own problems I try to show the funny side of impotence, incontinence and existential masculine despair.

Now that you've clarified, you can tell him we no longer envy him quite so much. A bit of tentative self-abuse, and scared to death of his wife, puts him right in the middle of the pack at five weeks.
Posted 10/1/2014 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Peter,

No offense taken at all--but thanks for saying that. I think you describe it perfectly. He's not sure how to handle it all and neither do I.

When I come up for air in a few days, or a week, I will start another thread and would appreciate everyone's frank advice. For now it's hands off until Friday.

Thanks,
Melaine
Posted 10/1/2014 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
Here's my rule: If you want consistent results that you can compare over time YOU need to be consistent and control and eliminate as many variables as possible.
Before my blood draw, I abstain from sex 48 hours (very easy for me to do sad), go to the same lab, on the same day of the week, at about the same time. I even fast as if I was having a cholesterol test done.
I've been doing this for 5 years and my PSA results have been absolutely repeatable.
It should not be hard to abstain for a day. I've read 10's of thousands of posts from hundreds of guys here and have not head of a single case where a wonky winkie (sorry for technical terms) atrophied and fell off due to one day of disuse.

5 weeks! I have to agree with Peter. I hate him just a little bit but envy him a whole lot! :-)
Congrats on the fast recovery!
Jeff
Posted 10/2/2014 12:33 AM (GMT 0)
Well this is news to me: abstinence before a PSA test!

Melanie, tell DH that wanking is good for him. I'm glad he is proactive and has taken the situation in hand. I had a really good hardon at week 5, then lost it for a loooong while, this is normal apparently. Luckily the hardons are back and the sessions are good. The downside is my misses now make appointments -- when she left for work this morning , she said "you are ON Friday night!"

This whole ED thing has its funny side. I went into the chemist a while ago and asked for a pack of 100 syringes. The young lass behind the counter wanted to know "why so many?" and I said in a loud voice "I have to inject my penis to get a hard on" It was one of those "twilight moments", because for a moment there everyone in the chemist froze as she turned a bright red.

After all the indignations suffered in hospitals of late, I've developed a mischievous streak.

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