Your sex life and penile cancer

Having sex after surgery

Doctors will always try to give you the treatment that preserves as much of your penis as possible. This will allow you to use it as normally as possible. Your doctor or nurse will talk to you before the operation about what to expect from the surgery and what effect this might have on your sex life.

They will tell you how long to wait after the operation until you can start to have sex or masturbate again. This allows time for the area to heal. It may take longer than this before you feel ready to have sex again.

Changes to how your penis looks or works can be devastating and difficult to come to terms with. Your healthcare team will support you.

After a circumcision for early stage cancer

You need to avoid sexual activity for about 4 weeks after the circumcision, or until the wound has healed.

You usually have erections and can ejaculate as before. But for the first few months you may feel some tightness around the scar when you get an erection.

You may feel that the head of your penis (glans) is slightly less sensitive than before the operation.

After removal of the area of the cancer (wide local excision)

You are usually able to have an erection and carry on with your sex life as usual, once the wound has healed. You may have some changes to sensation around the area.

After removal of the head of the penis (glansectomy) with reconstruction

You are usually able to continue your sex life once you have healed from the surgery. You might have less sensation but it is likely you are able to have erections.

After removal of part of the penis (partial penectomy)

Many people can have a fulfilling sex life after this type of surgery. You might be able to have an erection and orgasm without the sensitive head of the penis (glans). You can usually still penetrate your partner with the remaining shaft of the penis. 

A study on men who had a partial penectomy found that over half of them could have an erection and intercourse.

After removal of the whole penis (total penectomy)

After a penectomy you might need to adapt the way you express your sexuality. It can still be possible to have a fulfilling sex life. Talk to your partner and share the ways you would like to be sexually satisfied. It is possible to find different ways of being sexual with your partner. This may help you to overcome the changes in your body.

You may still be able to have an orgasm with stimulation of the area where your penis used to be, as well as of other sensitive areas such as the scrotum and perineum. But you won't be able to ejaculate.

After a penis reconstruction

You may have a penis reconstruction after your surgery if you had part, or all, of your penis removed. This is called a phalloplasty. This will be another operation after a period of time, for example a year, and there is no sign of the cancer.

Specialist plastic surgeons and urologists use skin and muscle from other areas of the body to reconstruct a new penis. You might have some sensation if your surgeon is able to reconnect some of the nerves. You usually have a penile implant so that you can have an erection.

This is major surgery with a high risk of complications and is not suitable for everyone. Before you have the surgery, talk to your doctor about what you should expect afterwards.

All these changes to your sex life take time to adjust to. If you have a partner, working as a couple on the changes and sharing your feelings can make it easier. Talking to specialist nurses and counsellors can also help with coping with appearance changes and changes to your sex life.

Find out about problems after surgery for penile cancer

Having sex after radiotherapy or chemotherapy

It can take time to recover from the side effects of radiotherapy or chemotherapy before you feel ready to have sex.

Radiotherapy to your penis might temporarily affect your ability to have an erection. This is sometimes because of tiredness caused by the radiotherapy, as well as the worry about your diagnosis. Radiotherapy might also affect the nerves in and around the penis in the short term.  

The tissue in the penis might become thickened from radiotherapy. This might make it more difficult and painful to have an erection. You may also have less sensation.   

Most of these side effects improve once you have finished treatment. Many men are able to carry on their sex life as before.

Talking about sexual difficulties

With doctors and nurses

Your sex life is very personal. You may find it difficult to talk with a doctor or nurse about any sexual difficulties you have from treatment.

Doctors and nurses deal with these situations all the time. They are used to talking about them so try not to feel embarrassed.

They can also refer you to a specialist counsellor or a sex therapist.

Information about counselling

With your partner

You may be uncomfortable discussing sexual difficulties with your partner. You might think they could reject you or be angry in some way.

Your partner is likely to be relieved that you want to talk things over. They could have been trying to find the right time to raise the subject themselves. You may feel even closer after you have talked any worries or difficulties through.

Go to more information about sex, sexuality and cancer