Sex during ADT

[sex0during0ADT]

Does anyone have sexual relations while being treated with ADT?

[Tall_Allen]

I know some guys who have. Libido is a very individual thing.

[AlanMeyer Moderator]

Yes, I had sex while on ADT. I've written about this in previous postings. Here are URLs for a couple of them:

healthunlocked.com/advanced...

healthunlocked.com/advanced...

The links will take you to postings by other people. Search the pages for "AlanMeyer" to find my replies that describe my experience.

Ultimately, I think a great deal depends on how important sex is to you and your wife or partner. If it's important, you can overcome even a total lack of libido and get, and give, a surprising amount of satisfaction from sex.

Best of luck.

Alan

[cpcohen]

"Androgen Deprivation Therapy: An Essential Guide . . " -- 2nd edition -- Wassersug et al --

Chapter 6 (25 pages) is devoted to that topic. The short answer is

. . . "If you want sexual relations to continue, you can make it happen."

I have no personal experience of this problem. But the book agrees with AlanMeyer.

. Charles

PS -- bias -- I know Dr. Wassersug.

[PonySoldier]

My libido has remained the same as it was prior to and during treatment. I'm 10 months into 18 months of ADT. There were 3 days following brachytherapy when I was unable to get an erection. It wasn't for a lack of trying; I was interested but the equipment just wasn't working. Obviously, there's no ejaculate but the orgasms are satisfying. I'm grateful and considering myself lucky. I do have all of the other unpleasant side effects which I find completely distressing.

[Farmer-joe1]

My libido completely left me the day I started hormone therapy it’s gone from one randy individual to a bloke who couldn’t care less if he never had sex again it’s a real bummer

[Stellabell]

Don't I wish. Not only is the ability gone but the desire as well. My reaction to ADT has been severe, however, with fatigue and about a dozen hot flashes a day. Perhaps it depends on your testosterone level before the treatment starts? I have a friend 12 years my senior (I am 66) who has had no ill effects at all and continues to have erections.

[Dreamweaverman]

Yes. I am presently in month 7 of Adt. While my libido is definitely not there my passion and romantic self still desires the connection of my partner. He is committed and we have found some creative ways in having sex, however I have to make a mental commitment before and during sex to stay present. I have actually somewhat faked orgasms when my mind could no longer feign interest. But most of the time it is a mutually desired thing.

[Neathuh1]

Too personal to go into here but sexual relations yes; the same way as before ADT, no. We got imaginative. Remember, your brain is your biggest sexual organ.

[sgtolch]

If Viagra, Cialis or Levitra don't work, options are vacuum etection device (etection may last only 20 min or so) or penile injections (erection lasts an hour or so or until climax). Sounds awful but really not. Very important to NOT use too large a dose to avoid priapasm. There's a lot of discussion on other sites about inexpensive injections, bimix, trimix. US Specialty Care sells Edex kits of 6 for max copay of $150 or less depending on insurance.

Vacuum devices - best get a Rx to get a good one. It's important to get erections during ADT to preserve erectile tissue. See book by Dr Mulhall, eg on Amazon for preserving sexual health.

[timotur]

In five months on Zytiga/Lupron, I haven't even thought of sex, but I did have a nocturnal erection the other night, and it was like a balloon filling with air for the first time the way it crinkled and popped. Really weird feeling, but glad it still works if I get the desire.

[Murph256]

I’m coming to the end of 6 months of Lupron and Bicaludamide, and I have really struggled with my loss of libido and hot flashes, and how it has effected my sex/love life. To complicate matters, I am single, so I don’t have an understanding wife of many years to support me through my treatments and their side effects.

However, recently I’ve met the most amazing woman. She knows about my health issues, so we took everything very slowly. Last weekend (with the help of Cialis and bimix injections), we had the most wonderful, intimate, romantic evening. Yes, it was different from pre-ADT sex, but it was still fantastic. So with the right mental approach and the right partner, you can still have great sex on ADT. Please don’t give up hope.

[Handdrummer777 in reply to Murph256]

That's great that you met a terrific understanding woman during your stretch of ADT. I'm in the same boat -- broke up with my long-term girlfriend and am single again. Still have 5 months of ADT to go. Complicating matters is a resurgence of gay desires from 40+ yrs ago, so that I'm identifying now as bi.

The libido has to be helped along -- nurtured by whatever mental approach that preserves some ongoing interest in sex. A great partner sure helps!

Best of luck to you.