Hello everyone, this is probably a question that has been asked many times :(

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/treatment/coping-with-treatment/your-sex-life/side-effects-of-treatment-to-the-male-pelvic-area

Hello mrbernay.

Welcome to our little section of the Community - we are a friendly bunch.

I can't personally comment on your question - I am on Hormone Therapy/ Radiotherapy so there's no action in that department at the moment!

At the top of the page I have posted a link to the advice page on MacMillan Cancer information as there may well be help and information there that you haven't considered or were aware of.  I hope this helps. No doubt there will be some advice later from other Community members who have "been there - done that".

If I can be of any further help please don't hesitate to contact me.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi mrbernay. I am 69. I had my RP 12 months ago. I also still suffer greatly from ED. I can get a nutural very partial erection. I have been taking 5mg Tadalafil daily for past 11.5 months. I have no idea whether they have helped at all. I am thinking about trying an occational  much higher dosage as well to see if that helps. I was prescribed a Soma Therapy vacuum pump. That does actually work extremely well and the supplied rings maintain the erection for in excess of 30 minutes. The main problem is the practicalities of using the pump. Mine would have been over £200 and I don't think I would have entertained spending that money originally. However if mine broke I would do so now. I understand it is a lottery on whether it is available on the NHS. It has penile rehabilitation usage as well so that is another reason to give. I would suggest try talking to your GP and also enquire as to whether there is an ED nurse or specialist you can see. I also wonder whether there are any other injections you could try. 

Thanks Static. I'll look into that.

Hi My husband is the same age as you and had his op 12 weeks ago. His consultant has referred him to the ED clinic and we're thinking that the pump will be his best option.

He's not ready to try anything yet because he's worried that he will wet himself and this will set him back mentally.

I have read that the ring used to maintain the erection after using the pump  also holds back the urine. Are you able to confirm that this is true?

I'm not sure if this is allowed here but Prostate Cancer UK are holding a "Webinar" on this very subject. You can find out more here:

prostatecanceruk.org/.../prostate-cancer-and-your-sex-life-webinar

Thanks Seamus - I haven't checked with "The Boss" but I think that link is fine.

Best wishes - Brian.

Thanks Seamus - just registered.

Hi GR1 - Yes the rings are very tight. Probably act like the penile clamps (not that I have used them). I did use to get a bit of leakage seep past though at times. I do not get any leakage past the rings now. You are only meant to keep the rings on for 30 minutes (although thinking now that seems a bit strange as I understand you can keep penile clamps on for hours. My ED nurse said I wasn't entitled to a pump on the NHS due to my location. She did however  arrange for a guy from the supplier, IMEDicare to phone me and talk through it in detail. That was very useful. The MEDicare man  sent me a Vacuum Erection Device Prescription Advice Form which was useful as it had my required sizes for the pump and types of accessories detailed (I guess he got some of the details from the ED nurse, there are quite a few option). He told me to send the Advice Form to my GP with a letter stating that is what the ED nurse was recommending for me, which I did, and my GP issued a full prescription.

Thanks Seamus 

I've seen that obtaining one of the expensive pumps on the NHS is indeed hit and miss and seems to depend on where you are and your GP. Not right I agree but unfortunately that seems to be the case like some other things.

If you can't get one on prescription I'd suggest giving some thought to buying a much more reasonably priced pump (£30 / £40) from one of the online retailers - they are much more affordable and will at least enable you try it out at a much lower cost to ascertain if it's any good for you. A good constriction ring is a must and ebay sellers have them for arond £10 / £15 - the novelty type items are no good for this purpose.

The ring should not be worn for more than 30 minutes - it traps blood to maintain an erection and if kept on any longer will can cause permanent damage!