When Can I Have Sex After Prostate Cancer Treatment?
Apr 14, 2025
Over 300,000 people are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year in the United States. Fortunately, most men don’t die from the disease due to advances in prostate cancer treatment. However, sexual repercussions are common.
Your sex life will probably change following prostate cancer treatment, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to enjoy sex. With the right support, you can get back to the sexual health you previously enjoyed.
Our expert team at Kane Health in Silicon Valley, Redwood City, and the San Francisco Bay area of California provides customized programs to help you regain your sexual vitality after prostate cancer treatment.
Take a few moments to learn more about sex after your treatment, including the timeline you can expect.
Prostate cancer can affect your sexual health and function in many ways. Depending on factors like the treatment type and your overall health, you may experience:
These issues stem from blood vessel or nerve damage in the treatment area, low testosterone, or tiredness and fatigue. Once they set in, anxiety and stress related to sex and intimacy are common.
Sexual side effects of prostate cancer treatment can affect anyone. However, your odds are heightened if you’re of older age or have a pre-existing medical condition, like diabetes or hypertension.
While some forms of sex, such as outercourse — where you focus on external stimulation versus penetration — can be enjoyed whenever you feel ready to post prostate cancer treatment, intercourse requires some time.
You may be able to engage in penetrative sex a couple of weeks after radiation therapy. After prostate cancer surgery, intercourse as soon as one month later is possible.
However, sexual challenges are common, such as ED. These can linger on for up to two years following prostate cancer treatment — especially if they go unaddressed. For some people, the altered sexual function becomes permanent.
That doesn’t mean you can’t have sex during that time, but that sex may feel quite different.
Our Post Prostate Cancer Recovery (PPRC) program at Kane Health aims to accelerate your healing process for minimized sexual complications. Board-certified urologist and prostate cancer specialist Dr. Chris Threatt oversees our programs, which include acoustic wave therapy and microdosed, proprietary medications.
Individual results vary, but most people enrolled in our PPCR program experience improved sexual function within 3-6 weeks. That means getting back to the intimacy you enjoy sooner versus later.
To get started with personalized care, call our office or request an appointment through our website today.