Loss of length after radical prostatectomy
Saturday, May 28th, 2011Dear Dr. Reed,
Had a radical prostatectomy some 5 yrs ago. It left me with a shrunken penis (2inches) and no functioning nerves.
Would this surgery help my situation by improving length and girth ??? And, can my insurance cover cost ?
Jacob
Good morning Jacob,
Hope the attached is helpful. Please confer with your carrier
regarding your benefits. Our experience would suggest “no.”
Loss in length following radical prostatectomy was reported by Dr. Mark S. Soloway
at the University of Miami about 8 years ago in the Journal of Urology. Thought to be attributed to loss of urethral prostatic length.
Many study participants also reported a marked decrease in sexual functioning after prostatectomy, a known risk of the procedure, Soloway and his colleagues note. While 92 percent of patients prior to surgery reported being able to achieve an erection, only 33 percent retained that ability three months later.
This marked impotence following surgery may, in part, explain the concurrent decrease in penis size, Soloway suggested — with lack of use, the penis may shorten. Other potential explanations include changes in the body that occur as a result of surgery to remove the prostate, he said.
Could knowing that prostatectomy may decrease penis size inspire some men to forgo the potentially life-saving operation? “I don’t think we know the answer to that,” Soloway noted.
SOURCE: Journal of Urology 2003;169:1462-1464.
Conventional surgery may not be the answer, but we can get into that should you decide to initiate a consultation on the phone or at the office. Fee 250.
Sincerely,
Harold M. Reed, M.D.