How an Enlarged Prostate Affects a Man Sexually
Published March 24, 2022.
An enlarged prostate is one of the most common problems seen in men after the age of 40. It is caused due to hormonal changes that are common with age.
As per studies, 50% of men over the age of 50, as well as 60% of men over 60, will have enlarged prostate—the number increases with age. However, does an enlarged prostate affect a man sexually? In reality, most of the time, they do not.
Can a man with enlarged prostate get a woman pregnant? Unless there is no other problem or complication, he can. For more, keep reading.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia vs. Erectile Dysfunction
The technical term for an enlarged prostate is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This is a condition where your prostate increases in size. It grows inwards, pressing against the urethra, the tube through which urine and semen flow out of your body (1).
Erectile dysfunction is the inability to attain as well as maintain an erection.
Other questions often asked are whether sex and ejaculation can help an enlarged prostate or if the prostate can swell during arousal. The answer to both of those points is a "no." The prostate only enlarges when prostate cells begin to multiply due to hormonal imbalance.
Can an Enlarged Prostate Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
According to Dr. Faysal A. Yafi, even though there is no direct relation between prostate and erections, some BPH therapy can cause significant sexual dysfunction. Even though they are two separate conditions, some medicines used to treat BPH may affect your ability to keep an erection.
An enlarged prostate may or may not cause ED directly, but there is no evidence to suggest that men with an enlarged prostate are less likely to have sex.
However, medicines such as anti-testosterone drugs have been associated with ED and may also affect your libido. Alpha-blockers can interfere with erections as well as ejaculation. Some men have also experienced low sperm count and lower sperm volume.
Can an Enlarged Prostate Cause Ejaculation Issues?
In most cases, sexual dysfunction and ejaculation issues result from the treatment rather than the disease. It is also one of the reasons that men feel like they need to urinate but can't.
Some people with an enlarged prostate who have undergone surgical procedures such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) can experience ED. They have often complained about retrograde ejaculation, in which the semen released during orgasm doesn’t exit the penis but enters the bladder (2). There is also no evidence that prostatitis can be caused by not ejaculating.
Also known as dry orgasm—although it can be unnerving to ejaculate without orgasm—it is not harmful. In fact, it feels like a normal orgasm and doesn’t affect sexual pleasure (3).
Can You Treat an Enlarged Prostate?
Even though it's difficult to completely reverse an enlarged prostate, the right practices can help relieve symptoms and reduce the size. Follow the tips below to help you do so.
Foods to Avoid if You Have an Enlarged Prostate
- Dairy
- Vegetable oils
- Sugar
- Soy and soy products
Foods That Can Help Shrink Your Enlarged Prostate
- Saw palmetto
- Stinging nettle roots
- Green tea
- Zinc-rich foods
- Lycopene rich foods such as tomatoes
- Seeds such as pumpkin seeds
- Foods rich in vitamin C
- Consume beets
- Consume tomatoes
- Consume more cruciferous vegetables
These types of foods protect cells by decreasing inflammation and inactivating carcinogens. Many are also available as a supplement and can be taken at the advice of your doctor.
Prostarex is a science-approved premium-grade advanced prostate support supplement that can help strengthen your bladder, improve urinary flow, and improve sex drive and performance.
Reduce Potential Estrogen Boosters
High estrogen is the real cause of an enlarged prostate. The most common reasons for high estrogen are consuming foods that are high in estrogen, adrenal fatigue, and having too much body fat.
- Cut out alcohol
- Avoid plastics
- Eat organic foods
- Reduce your stress levels
- Exercise daily, especially Kegel exercises
- Keep your body weight in control
Diet Trends for Someone With an Enlarged Prostate
High insulin is also one of the root causes of all metabolic syndromes. Insulin is anabolic, which means that it makes things grow. If you address the problem, you can prevent as well as control an enlarged prostate by practicing:
- Healthy keto
- Intermittent fasting—read Can Fasting Shrink an Enlarged Prostate?
Medications to Treat an Enlarged Prostate
- Alpha-blockers
- 5-Alpha reductase inhibitors
- Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors
Surgical Options
- TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate)
- TUIP (transurethral incision of the prostate)
- TUMT (transurethral microwave thermotherapy
- Prostatic urethral lift
In addition to all these aforementioned points, see your doctor for a proper diagnosis and medical intervention. Sexual problems can occur if you undergo prostate cancer treatment or removal of the prostate.
