Libido on HT

I was on Casodex + Finasteride for 5 months (9/13 - 1/14) while waiting to change insurance. During that time, I had no loss of libido or ability to have have an erection and reach orgasm. I added Lupron at the beginning of February and my oncologist also prescribed 5 mg daily of Cialis which I started last week. I started Zytiga and Prednisone last week as well.

While having sex with my wife last night, I had no problem getting an erection, but, for the first time ever, I had no feeling like I was going to have an orgasm so had to stop after several minutes. My mind was sort of into it, but it seemed my body could not have cared less. Is this the norm for being on Lupron?

Do you guys on HT continue to have sex with your mates although the libido is gone? Are orgasms a thing of the past or do they ever occur on HT?

The weird thing is that I don't really care that much although several weeks ago it would have been devastating to contemplate I would not be having orgasms for a year or more. I would like to maintain the intimacy and be able to pleasure my wife through intercourse, which I guess I can do with the Cialis. If anyone has any tips on what has helped them, I would be very appreciative!

Yes, but if one can get an erection, one can still "perform", correct? And doesn't a mental desire to pleasure one's partner override any loss of libido?

jack

Yep.

The Casodex and Proscar can both take a bite out of your libido but nothing like the Lupron does. Casodex doesn't reduce your testosterone, it just blocks its effects. Actually, by blocking the feedback loop it usually makes your testosterone go up since the process that scales back testosterone production when there is enough can no longer 'see' the testosterone and doesn't know to stop making it. When you add Lupron the the mix that makes your testosterone go up, too -- for about a week, then it crashes to near zero and stays there until the Lupron is allowed to wear off. You've been on Lupron for, what, three weeks? You are just getting into what will be your new normal for a while.

There is one thing you mentioned, specifically being unable to climax even though other things seem to be working. That is a classic side effect of SRRI antidepressants. If you've got any Prozac in your daily fist-full of pills you might mention it to your doctor. Although, there are sooo many sexual side effects to androgen deprivation that it could be anything.

We do have guys who manage to maintain something like a sex life while on HT. But not many. I had big plans to be one of them but the wife and I were put off by the whole incontinence thing and have kind of put things on hold until my hormone therapy wears off (probably late this year or early next.)

I'm not sure that it is so certain that you would not be able to have an erection while on Lupron (I can't comment much, being a no-nerves-spared guy), but you certainly won't care.

I found the trimix while on Lupron to be morbidly entertaining - a dark joke about "what did I ever need that for?" comes to mind.

Sorry, I updated my sig - forgot to add the day. Started Lupron on 2/4/2014 so 5 weeks tomorrow... will know my T levels soon. PSA only dropped .3 since on the Lupron from .9 to .6, hopefully more next time, especially with the Zytiga.

I have heard a large percentage of women seldom climax during intercourse, so I guess it is a role reversal of sorts. Does this mean I should fake it? Strange, now I see the logic in that...