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Quality of Orgasm after Bracythrapy

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Posted 2/2/2011 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
I know this is a very sensitive subject for guys but I would much appreciate feedback from anyone who has had brachytherapy about how orgasm feels now for you versus how it was before brachtherapy. I know BT can cause some ED problems and dry ejaculations but Im also concerned with the experience of orgasm. I'm a 63 year retired writer Gl 7 3+4 4.8 psa athletic with a much younger partner. Sex is very important to me in all its forms and the wonderful "oceanic" feeling of orgasm in all of its varieties is a great joy! And I also value the intimacy and relationship aspects of sex. I will do seeds or HDR bracytherapy in the next few weeks and would like to know how guys feel sexually now after bracytherapy. My doc says I want to have my cake and eat it too and its true, I dont want my sexuality to change but I'm thinking it will. I just want to have an idea what might happen. The docs with stats really do not present much of a picture of how a guy is afterwards. Do you feel the wonderful release and joy or is the dry organism a major downer or do you think its all in the mind? All opinions are welcome and many thanks for sharing so intimately! blush
Best wishes
Richard
Posted 2/2/2011 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
The most important sex organ is the brain.

As a surgery guy, I can't comment on brachy, but I can say that for me things are different but not worse. The dry orgasm took some getting use to but there is still a great proportion of love making that remains the same. With a loving partner there is still sight, touch, sound ... Trust yourself and your partner to find that there are still volumes of intimacy to be explored.
Posted 2/2/2011 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
Great Advice. I agree about the brain and about intimacy to be explored!! Can you say why the dry orgasm took some getting used to?
Posted 2/3/2011 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Richard:

Post brachytherapy orgasms are not completely dry- at least not for me to this point in time, although the quantity of ejaculate is reduced significantly.

I see no difference in the quality of orgasms- getting there may be another story- you may need some assistance in the way of ED medications or injections- depends- you won't know until you have had the procedure. One thing is certain- it will never be quite the same- be prepared to adjust- but don't be surprised if the whole experience brings you and your partner closer than ever.

Good luck.
Posted 2/3/2011 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
Richard, welcome to the forum.  I am two years post brachy.  I started enjoying sex again two weeks after my procedure.  Everything feels the same without any changes.  I do have some ejaculate loss (maybe half) but that does not change the feeling at all.

I have heard that some brachytherapy patients experience more ejaculate loss than I have but I don't recall that subject being discussed on this forum.  We have a number of brachy patients who post here fairly regularly.  Hopefully some of them will weigh in with their experience on this.

Best of luck with your procedure.  If you want to see what is was like for me, please feel free to check out my journey via the copy and paste link in my signature.

Tudpock (Jim)

 

Posted 2/3/2011 6:55 AM (GMT 0)
Jim
Thanks so much for your story of Bracytherapy. I read it all on your link. It is very reassuring though of course I could be one of the ones who have sexual problems or other side effects. I'm delighted that your psa is falling so nicely! Would you be comfortable saying what sex has been like for you following the procedure as far as the experience of dry or semi dry orgasm/ejaculation. Does it feel any different to you at all?

Best wishes for continued success!
Richard
Posted 2/3/2011 12:03 PM (GMT 0)
I had brachy on Oct. 4, 2010. I can tell you that my orgasms are as strong as ever and seem to last a bit longer. The difference is the lack of fluid. Mine are sometimes totally dry, sometimes with minimal fluid, and sometimes with moderate fluid, but never like before. However, some of this may be due to the Avodart or Flomax. I read that one of them does this too. Just off the Avodart, so we'll see. At any rate, it isn't really a big deal. I'm very very happy to still be 'in the game'.
Posted 2/3/2011 12:18 PM (GMT 0)
Richard, please see my earlier post on this thread which I believe answers your question. If not, it's probably TMI for the forum so just email me.

Tudpock (Jim)

Posted 2/3/2011 2:05 PM (GMT 0)
Richard,

While it's been 13 years since my brachytherapy, I remember that for the first two or three months there was just a little discomfort, not pain, during orgasm and the volume of ejaculate didn't seem to change. For the next 5 or 6 years, everything seemed to be "normal". Around year 7, my orgasms were the same, but my ejaculate became more of an "oozing" instead of an "explosion". My GP doctor said to chalk it up to getting old. (I was in my mid-50's then.) It stayed that way until the the cancer re-occurance and subsequent surgery.

By reading the posts, one can conclude that there doesn't seem to be a standard answer.

Wigs
Posted 2/3/2011 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
I had HDR with IMRT and am on Eligard and Jalyn (avodart and flomax). My second HDR was Dec 13, 2010 and I completed IMRT on Dec 23. I have had several ejaculations since. The first three were dark from blood and then have cleared up. I think the volume is less by about one-third, but the feeling is not diminished. I expect more of my issues will be coming from the hormone deprivation than the radiation.

I strongly recommend the HDR rather than permanent seeds. It is a more accurate and refined procedure providing better radiation coverage and fewer side effects. I will be happy to provide more specifics of my treatment and results if you like. I am 60 and was staged T2b and Gleason 7.
Posted 2/4/2011 6:07 AM (GMT 0)
JNF I have been reading a study by Demanes from UCLA that suggests 20 % impotency for HDR and more like 30% for seeds, but it was a very small study and did not deal with the lesser side effects of losing an erection or altered orgasm. Do you know of any big studies of HDR that show they have few sexual side effects?? Many thanks
Posted 2/4/2011 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
Richard, I have relied a lot on Demanes for information as he has been a leader in HDR and readily publishes results. I have read a few studies on the prostate info link and prostate cancer research center sites that report on HDR, but I don't recall any statistics. Dr. A Martinez in the Detroit area has also posted results, but I don't know if they included ed.
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