Hi annadaphne,
Normal ejaculation is the propelling of semen forward, through the
urethra, during an orgasm. Semen is prevented from entering the
bladder, naturally, by a small sphincter that closes off the neck of
the bladder.
Anejaculation, is described as a ?Dry ejaculation?, meaning one may
experience orgasm, but no seminal fluids are secreted at all. True
anejaculation is linked to nerve damage from diseases such as
Parkinson?s or multiple sclerosis, or drugs/alcohol.
http://www.50connect.co.uk/index.asp?main=http%3A//www.50connect.co.uk/50c/articlepages/beauty_index.asp%3Fsc%3Djustforhim%26aID%3D6145
Retrograde ejaculation is more likely what you mean in your question.
Following a radical prostatectomy, the small bladder sphincter often
no longer functions, from nerve or muscle damage during surgery. If
nerves have been permanently damaged or removed (quite often the
case), then retrograde ejaculation will become a permanent condition
The type of surgery you had, the degree of cancer (Gleason score), and
whether nerves were spared will determine whether you will experience
retrograde ejaculation. Some men will be left impotent, and many men
will experience retrograde ejaculation. Some men will continue to
experience orgasm. As in many things medical, it depends on the
individual?s own circumstances.
http://www.uroweb.org/files/uploaded_files/guidelines/ejaculationdisor.pdf
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001282.htm
http://yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au/~trillian/retro2.htm
http://www.phoenix5.org/glossary/retrograde_ejaculation.html
http://www.ivillagehealth.com/experts/fertility/qas/0,,242115_124978,00.html
?After prostatectomy, a small percentage of men are unable to have an
erection and will experience impotence. For most men, however, the
ability to have sexual intercourse and orgasm will remain relatively
unchanged.
Retrograde ejaculation may require getting used to, but orgasm should
remain a pleasurable experience. In men who experience retrograde
ejaculation, the seminal fluid is not ejaculated to the outside during
orgasm, so the ejaculation is dry?
http://yourmedicalsource.com/library/prostateremoval/PR_recovery.html
?Most urologists are aware that erectile dysfunction is frequent
following radical prostatectomy (RP). Most fail to appreciate and/or
fail to inform their patients regarding the other sexual dysfunctions,
which include the absence of ejaculation (although orgasm is generally
preserved)?
http://www.cornellurology.com/cornell/sexualmedicine/ed/prostatectomy.shtml
?The study reaffirmed that there is a low but significant clinical
incidence (4.8%) of erectile failure after TURP which is associated
with certain risk factors. Ejaculatory failure was higher in incidence
but carried a lower clinical significance.?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9704545&dopt=Abstract
This Hollywood Urology site has some simple, but explanatory
illustrations of where the prostate is and how the nerves are aligned.
?Loss of erections is common. Preservation of erections depends on
many factors Younger patients with small volume disease and lower
Gleason grade may be suitable for the preservation of the nerves which
supply erection. If both nerves are preserved in a man under 60 up to
75% of men are able to achieve erections. This falls to less than 5%
if the nerves are not preserved and the patient is over 70.?
Walsh PC, Epstein JI, Lowe FC: Potency following radical
prostatectomy. J Urol 1987; 138 : 823 - 827.
http://www.hollywoodurology.com/radpros.html
?It is also important to counsel patients that having a radical
prostatectomy obviates ejaculation but does not affect a patient's
ability to experience orgasm.?
http://www.postgradmed.com/issues/1996/09_96/freedman.htm
?After prostate removal, your ejaculations will be dry due to
retrograde ejaculation . However, the experience of orgasm should
remain unaffected and therefore enjoyable.?
http://yourmedicalsource.com/library/prostateremoval/PR_faq.html
Hope this clears things up for you! If any part of my answer is
unclear, please request an Answer Clarification before rating. This
will allow me to assist you further, if possible.
Regards, crabcakes
Search Terms
retrograde ejaculation prostatectomy
radical prostatectomy impotence |
Clarification of Answer by
crabcakes-ga
on
31 May 2004 19:49 PDT
Hello again annadaphne,
I must point out that neilzero, the commenter below, is not a
Google Answers Researcher, and his comment is erroneous. (Also, the
prostate is a gland, and not an organ, as noted by neilzero. No organs
are removed in a radical prostatectomy)
The chances of a man having an ejaculation after a radical
prostatectomy is nil. As mentioned in the original answer, it can
depend on the individual case, as surgical techniques may vary.
As stated in the original answer:
?It is also important to counsel patients that having a radical
prostatectomy obviates ejaculation but does not affect a patient's
ability to experience orgasm.?
http://www.postgradmed.com/issues/1996/09_96/freedman.htm
?After prostate removal, your ejaculations will be dry due to
retrograde ejaculation . However, the experience of orgasm should
remain unaffected and therefore enjoyable.?
http://yourmedicalsource.com/library/prostateremoval/PR_faq.html
?Most urologists are aware that erectile dysfunction is frequent
following radical prostatectomy (RP). Most fail to appreciate and/or
fail to inform their patients regarding the other sexual dysfunctions,
which include the absence of ejaculation (although orgasm is generally
preserved)?
http://www.cornellurology.com/cornell/sexualmedicine/ed/prostatectomy.shtml
This Johns Hopkins Medical Center site has an explanation that may
help you understand how the bladder neck is cut during radical
prostatectomy surgery.
This page also has a good illustration of the position of the bladder
and the prostate.
"Once the bladder neck has been incised anteriorly, the Foley catheter
is deflated and used for traction. The plane between the bladder neck
and seminal vesicles is easily identified because the lateral pedicles
have already been divided. This plane is developed and the bladder
neck is divided on the anterior surface of the seminal vesicles. An
Alice clamp is placed on the posterior bladder neck exposing the vasa
deferens in the midline. The vasa deferens are clipped and divided.
Next the seminal vesicles are mobilized, arterial branches are clipped
and divided, and the specimen is removed.
Figure 12.
Closing the bladder neck
A tennis-racket closure of the bladder neck is preformed, using
interrupted 2-0 chromic catgut suture; 4-0 chromic catgut sutures are
used to evert the mucosa of the bladder over the raw edges of the
detrusor musculature to avoid a bladder neck contracture."
http://urology.jhu.edu/surgical_techniques/radical_prostatectomy/
After radical prostatectomy, many men develop scar tissue around the
neck of the bladder (bladder neck contractures) that necessitates
further surgery.
Hope this clears things up!
Regards,
crabcakes
PS
You can distinguish Google Researchers from the folks who leave
comments by the color of their screen name. Google Answers Researchers
names are blue, and are "clickable", linking you to a list of previous
answers by the researcher.
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