Watchful Waiting	There are no side effects.
Surgery	Knowing the possible side effects you may have before surgery is very important. Medicines such as sidenafil (Viagra®), vardenafil (Levitra®), and tadalafil (Cialis®) increase blood flow to the penis, leading to an erection. Injection therapy (or shots) can help with getting an erection. Medicine is self-injected with a needle into the penis to produce an erection. The drug takes about 5 minutes to work and lasts for 20 to 90 minutes. For men who don't do well with either oral medicine or injection therapy, they should talk with their doctor about other options. This includes MUSE (medicated urethral system for erection), where a small pellet is inserted into the urethra using an applicator to help with erections. Vacuum erection devices or penile implants can be other options to help with erections. Lack of bladder control may be severe for about 6 to 12 weeks after surgery. During this time, you will need to wear a pad. Emptying your bladder often may help to control leaks. Other options for managing incontinence include absorbent products, collection devices, biofeedback, and various surgical options.
Radiation Therapy	Bladder and bowel function may be affected, but there are bladder muscle exercises and medications that can help.

< Previous Question ¹  |  Back to Questions List ²  |  Next Question > ³

Glossary Terms

A method of learning to voluntarily control certain body functions such as heartbeat, blood pressure, and muscle tension with the help of a special machine. This method can help control pain.