Experience of prostate reduction surgery

[Wildpig]

Does anyone have experience of prostate surgery for benign enlargement? The option I am looking at is laser.  

What were your recovery times? When were you able to have anal sex again? Were there any difficulties to overcome for ff? Was there sensation change?

I would be so grateful for advice.  Many of us over 55 will face potential surgery or drugs which impact erectile function and libido. I know I won’t be alone in this room.

Thank you in anticipation   

 

[foryouruse]

I had a Uro-Lift done a few years ago and it was transformative. I have to take decongestants for my sinuses everyday, and I’ve had trouble peeing for 40 years. It wasn’t actually what the urologist recommended, but the downside of all the other surgery treatments scared the hell out of me. The downside is that it isn’t permanent and may need to be redone in 5 or 10 years. So far, no problem, but also, none of the side effects like incontinence or nerve damage.

[PhoenixTriad]

2 hours ago, foryouruse said:

I had a Uro-Lift done a few years ago and it was transformative. I have to take decongestants for my sinuses everyday, and I’ve had trouble peeing for 40 years. It wasn’t actually what the urologist recommended, but the downside of all the other surgery treatments scared the hell out of me. The downside is that it isn’t permanent and may need to be redone in 5 or 10 years. So far, no problem, but also, none of the side effects like incontinence or nerve damage.

I just had the Urolift too.  My urologist told me, aside from removing the prostate entirely, all the other procedures also need to be redone in 5 to 10 years.

[foryouruse]

1 hour ago, PhoenixTriad said:

I just had the Urolift too.  My urologist told me, aside from removing the prostate entirely, all the other procedures also need to be redone in 5 to 10 years.

Thank you for letting me know. I was completely freaked out when I was reading about the side effects from the other surgeries. I don’t have a clue why the others are recommended instead. I had no side effects and it fixed 40 years of problems.

[AlwaysOpen]

On 5/26/2025 at 10:51 PM, foryouruse said:

Thank you for letting me know. I was completely freaked out when I was reading about the side effects from the other surgeries. I don’t have a clue why the others are recommended instead. I had no side effects and it fixed 40 years of problems.

As someone who just spent a year on the prostate cancer journey ( from the failed PSA test to the last radiation treatment )  I think I can answer your question.  You are being diagnosed by a Urologic Surgeon. His entire educational focus was on surgery- and as it applies to penis and prostates. Down the street from his office ( or if he is  posh, down the hall)  there is a very nice, VERY expensive operating room, likely outfitted with a robotic surgery machine that cost a LOT ( a million perhaps) and has to be paid for, one man at a time. So his solution is cut the prostate out ( bigger billable) Up to 5% of the men he cuts up will have bladder leakage the rest of their lives, some will have one, or both, erectile nerves that run up opposite sides of the prostate severed or damaged, and will have to do " dick shots" to get some version of an erection. Oh- another issue with removing the prostate- the urethra runs up thru the damned thing- bladder to penis tip- if that gets sliced, they have to resection it. Now, there is no spare tubing between the bladder and the prostate, so they "pull up" the needed undamaged urethra from the other end- which means you will have a loss of length. 

Surgery is 1980 technology. The uro lift is much less invasive ( and less money for the practice)  but is better than losing a key part of your sexuality. 

[FF69]

5 hours ago, AlwaysOpen said:

As someone who just spent a year on the prostate cancer journey ( from the failed PSA test to the last radiation treatment )  I think I can answer your question.  You are being diagnosed by a Urologic Surgeon. His entire educational focus was on surgery- and as it applies to penis and prostates. Down the street from his office ( or if he is  posh, down the hall)  there is a very nice, VERY expensive operating room, likely outfitted with a robotic surgery machine that cost a LOT ( a million perhaps) and has to be paid for, one man at a time. So his solution is cut the prostate out ( bigger billable) Up to 5% of the men he cuts up will have bladder leakage the rest of their lives, some will have one, or both, erectile nerves that run up opposite sides of the prostate severed or damaged, and will have to do " dick shots" to get some version of an erection. Oh- another issue with removing the prostate- the urethra runs up thru the damned thing- bladder to penis tip- if that gets sliced, they have to resection it. Now, there is no spare tubing between the bladder and the prostate, so they "pull up" the needed undamaged urethra from the other end- which means you will have a loss of length. 

Surgery is 1980 technology. The uro lift is much less invasive ( and less money for the practice)  but is better than losing a key part of your sexuality. 

hope you have fully recovered from that journey