Does an Enlarged Prostate Affect a Man Sexually?

March 18, 2021

4 mins

An enlarged prostate may cause some discomfort that gets in the way of everyday life including sex. The prostate is a male structure in the body that works uniquely. Many factors may cause an enlarged prostate. In many cases, it's benign (non-cancerous). It may be classified as benign prostatic hyperplasia, benign prostatic hypertrophy, or benign prostatic obstruction.

To fully answer the question as to how an enlarged prostate can impact a man sexually, it's important to understand the importance of the prostate in sexual function. The following article takes a detailed look at the effects of an enlarged prostate.

Revitalize your intimacy discreetly.

Explore our ED treatment options.

Get Started

Symptoms of an Enlarged Prostate

Not everyone experiences the same symptoms, but the following symptoms are commonly associated with an enlarged prostate. The prostate is normally around the size of a walnut. When it grows beyond that size, the body may experience pain, sexual dysfunction, and urinary incontinence in response to the sudden change in size.

Pain

While pain is not a regular part of sex, feeling some pain during sexual activity may be a sign of an enlarged prostate. Most of the pain from an enlarged prostate is felt in the lower abdomen and sometimes near the back and near the urinary tract.

The pain can range from mild to severe depending on the cause of your pain and how long it's been around. Pain from an enlarged prostate may disrupt sexual performance by making it difficult to participate in sexual intercourse without feeling pain.

Painful ejaculation

An inflamed prostate may cause pain during ejaculation. However, having an enlarged prostate does not directly cause pain during ejaculation. Some medications used to treat an enlarged prostate may lead to pain during ejaculation. If you experiencing pain during ejaculation, be sure to speak with a healthcare provider about switching medications.

Pain while urinating

The prostate releases its hold on the urethra during urination. The process of releasing can take time and is one of the reasons men often find it difficult to urinate when sexually aroused.

When inflamed, the prostate can cause pain during urination. Some men may experience a burning sensation while urinating if they have an enlarged prostate. Some men may also feel the need to pee right away and have trouble holding it for long periods. Over time, incontinence (loss of bladder or bowel control) may occur in some men.

Generalized pelvic pain

In addition to causing pain during urination, an enlarged prostate can cause generalized pelvic pain near the genital area. Generalized pelvic pain is one of the first signs of prostatitis. Those with prostatitis experience experience swelling from inflammation. Infections in the prostate lead to prostatitis. Be sure to reach out to a healthcare provider if you're showing signs of persistent pain in the pelvic area.

Decreased libido

Libido is a measure of how strong your sex drive is. Low libido is often a result of problems with sexual function. While the urge to have sex peaks in young adulthood and tapers off as you get older, sexual dysfunction may cause issues with libido earlier than usual. Both men and women can experience low libido.

Many factors contribute to low libido. Stress from environmental and socioeconomic factors can sometimes contribute to changes in sex drive. In some cases, men with an enlarged prostate may experience urinary infections more often that may inhibit their sexual activity.

Erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the most common form of male sexual dysfunction, but there are many treatment options for it.

Also known as male impotence, ED is the inability to grow or maintain an erection. Where libido is a non-physical disruption to sex, ED is a physical barrier to sex. Some drugs used to treat causes of an enlarged prostate like benign prostatic hypertrophy may increase your risk of ED.

Causes of an Enlarged Prostate

A healthcare provider can assess your symptoms to determine why your prostate is enlarged. Several possible causes of an enlarged prostate include prostatitis and prostate cancer.

Prostatitis

Prostatitis is a condition where the prostate becomes inflamed. This can be due to numerous causes, but one of the most common is infection. Harmful bacteria and other foreign invaders can enter the urethra which can lead to health complications.

Typically these infections are bacterial, and a simple course of antibiotics prescribed by a healthcare professional can help remedy symptoms. In some cases, treating a bacterial infection may help restore sexual function and pleasure.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, also known as BPH, is a benign cause of prostate enlargement. There is typically no specific trigger to BPH. However, older men are more likely to show signs of BPH. Many targeted drugs can help manage BPH, but one of the best treatments for those with ED and BPH is Cialis (tadalafil). 

Prostate cancer

Cancer occurs when a cell divides excessively and develops into a mass of cells known as a tumor. Both genetics and environmental factors may increase your risk of developing cancer. Unfortunately, some treatments for prostate cancer may also cause erectile dysfunction. 

To treat prostate cancer, doctors utilize a wide range of treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. All of these treatments may affect sexual health because of their effects on the prostate and penile function.

It's important for men to be proactive with their prostate and sexual health. A survey conducted in 2000 found that nearly a quarter of men were likely to wait as long as possible to seek care.

This mindset could be extremely dangerous, especially in the case of prostate cancer. The longer health conditions go undiagnosed and untreated, the more likely it is to be more serious, damaging, and even life-threatening in the long run.

Treatment for an Enlarged Prostate and ED

While an enlarged prostate can cause ED, there are treatment options available to you to facilitate normal sexual function. Be sure to reach out to a healthcare provider as soon as possible if you are experiencing symptoms to prevent the pain from getting worse.

How RexMD Can Help

While an enlarged prostate may affect your sexual health and overall well-being, there are steps you can take to prevent symptoms from worsening.

A healthcare provider can help you assess the best treatment plan for you to improve erectile dysfunction. Rex MD offers access to a variety of erectile dysfunction treatments like Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil) to help you get back to a stress-free sex life. Get started on exploring medications that may work for you today.