How to Cope With Impotence Caused by Chemo

Chemo often causes a man to experience impotence, the inability to get or keep an erection. Various types of cancer affect men's sexual health. Prostate cancer may cause erectile dysfunction because the tumor can damage the nerves, hormonal therapy to treat testicular cancer may affect your sex organs and radiation therapy can also hurt your nerves and cause impotence.

Instructions

• 1

  Know that chemo can decrease the amount of testosterone your body produces. In addition, the medication you're on can affect your hormone balance.

• 2

  Understand that most chemo side effects like erectile dysfunction usually go away one to two weeks after you've completed chemo. But in some cases the nerve damage is enough to lead to impotence.

• 3

  Tell your doctor if you're experiencing impotence. He may be able to adjust your medications to ease the situation.

• 4

  Consider taking a drug like Viagra. It is safe to take when undergoing cancer treatment and can help your **** keep an erection.

• 5

  Use a vacuum device to sustain an erection if your medication changes aren't working.

• 6

  Try doing Kegal exercises to strengthen the muscles used for intercourse. Contract the muscles that control urination and hold it for 10 seconds. Do the exercises several times a day.

• 7

  Be intimate with your partner even if intercourse isn't an option at this time. There are plenty of ways to be close and share sexual intimacy while you're coping with impotence.