Can Testicular Cancer Cause Erectile Dysfunction?

Although developing any form of cancer can be devastating, one of the upsides to testicular cancer is that it has a very high survival rate (98%). There are often other side effects that men have to contend with, including erectile dysfunction, and other mental and physical conditions that may affect the quality of sexual activity afterward. Some of these can be cured, while others can be treated with a range of different therapies.

Is testicular cancer the real cause of the problem?

Often, it might not be testicular cancer that directly causes erectile dysfunction, but the different types of treatment that are required to remove said cancer. The most common forms of treatment are surgery to remove the cancer and sometimes one or both testicles, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy^1. There isn’t necessarily any specific type of treatment that will increase or decrease your risk of this particular side effect. Erectile dysfunction has been reported in roughly 12% – 40% of all men with testicular cancer, regardless of their treatment method².

It’s also important to note that if you experience erectile dysfunction before undergoing treatment for testicular cancer, your chances of experiencing it again are higher than someone who has not previously dealt with this issue³. Testicular cancer or subsequent treatment of it might not cause erectile dysfunction, but it can exacerbate it in those who already suffer.

Will the erectile dysfunction be permanent?

For a lot of men who undergo treatments like chemotherapy, erectile dysfunction and a loss of interest in sex may occur a few weeks after treatment⁴. This is generally not permanent, and regular sexual activity and interest should resume after those first few weeks. If you are still experiencing sexual dysfunction after an extended period of time, you should talk to your doctor. You are more likely to see improvements the quicker you seek help, compared to just leaving it.

Is erectile dysfunction the only side effect of testicular cancer that causes sexual impairment?

Unfortunately, there are a number of different side effect that can be caused by treatment for testicular cancer, that might have an effect on the patient’s sexual activity. These can be physical as well as mental⁵. The most common side effects that reduce sexual function include:

Retrograde ejaculation

This happens when instead of ejaculating semen out of the penis, it flows back into the bladder⁶. This is not necessarily a health condition that will cause physical problems, as the semen usually leaves the body next time you urinate (urine tends to be cloudy, due to the presence of semen). This tends to be a permanent issue, and

Dry orgasm

This term is used to refer to when a man experiences sexual climax but does not ejaculate anything⁷. This can be caused by a number of different procedures, and usually happens when the nerves that mix together the fluids to create semen become damaged. Unfortunately, this is usually a permanent problem.

Lack of interest in sex

If you have to undergo a bilateral orchidectory (the removal of both testicles), you may experience a lowered interest in sexual activity. This is due to the fact that your body can no longer produce the correct amount of testosterone⁸. For some people, their bodies will begin to produce the correct levels of hormones again, it just takes time to regulate. For others, they may need to seek treatment options, such as testosterone replacement therapy⁹. The good news is that this side effect is treatable, and can be fixed completely.

Mental/emotional issues

The lack of interest can also come from feeling low self-confidence, which can then in turn affect physical seuxal performance¹⁰. This is completely normal, and can be fixed by communicating with your partner, and to your medical team about potential solutions to help you overcome the emotional trauma.

Discuss any sexual problems that you are having with your doctor

If you begin to experience any of these issues after undergoing any form of treatment for testicular cancer, talk to your medical team. This is a common occurrence, and they will be able to offer practical advice. Even if a condition is not curable, it is almost always still treatable in some way.

Can Testicular Cancer Cause Erectile Dysfunction?

Is testicular cancer the real cause of the problem?

Will the erectile dysfunction be permanent?

Is erectile dysfunction the only side effect of testicular cancer that causes sexual impairment?

Retrograde ejaculation

Dry orgasm

Lack of interest in sex

Mental/emotional issues

Discuss any sexual problems that you are having with your doctor

Endnotes