First clinical guidance on anal sex after prostate cancer

[Travelinman]

medicalxpress.com/news/2019...

Here's a quick overview of the recommendations from the UK:

The guidance is based on the consensus opinion of 15 clinical oncologists and 11 urological surgeons, recruited with help from The Royal college of Radiologists, The British Association of Urological Surgeons, the British Uro-oncology Group, Prostate Cancer UK and the Gay and Lesbian Association of Doctors and Dentists.

Recommendations

Panel members were asked to give opinions on when it was safe to receive anal sex before and after prostate cancer tests and treatments. The consensus agreed was:

Before a PSA blood test—1 week (may lead to an inaccurate result)

Following a transrectal biopsy (TRUS)- 2 weeks (may cause bleeding, pain or increase the risk of infection)

Following a transperineal biopsy -1 week (to allow bruising to settle, and reduce painful intercourse)

Following a radical prostatectomy (surgical removal of prostate)- 6 weeks (may cause bleeding, pain, and increase the risk of urinary incontinence)

During external beam radiotherapy and 2 months afterwards (could make acute side effects worse, be painful, or result in long term complications such as rectal bleeding)

The clinical oncologists were unable to agree on how long men should abstain from receiving anal sex after permanent seed brachytherapy, where radioactive seeds are inserted into the prostate to kill the cancer. Following additional consultation with medical physicists, it was agreed that men should abstain from receiving anal sex for 6 months, in order to minimise radiation exposure to sexual partners. This was based on review of existing evidence which included guidance produced for an individual patient based at a UK hospital. Patients receiving high dose-rate brachytherapy should avoid anal sex for 2 months.

Sean Ralph added "It is important to note that there was a range of opinions on how long men should abstain from receiving anal sex, so the figures we quote are based on the most common answers provided. There is a lack of concrete clinical evidence on this subject. What we have done is take the opinions of some of the top clinicians working within prostate cancer in order to produce guidance where none previously existed. It's the first real step in informing both doctors and patients about best practice advice based on expert clinical experience and judgement."

Prostate Cancer UK has already incorporated these findings into their patient advice.

[dadzone43]

Appreciate your digging this out. Clearly it is based on consensus opinion because it is not researched. More evidence of the lack of good research on the players on my "team."

[Travelinman in reply to dadzone43]

You're right of course, although ... finally ... some of our unique issues are at least on the radar. It's a starting point, and it appears to generally fit with some of the suggestions I've heard ad hoc from the medical community in the U.S.

[Tall_Allen]

At least they're thinking about it - thanks for posting.