Post-surgical ED
Evidence status: EstablishedErectile Dysfunction After Prostate Surgery
Is erectile dysfunction common after prostate surgery?
Yes. Radical prostatectomy can affect the nerves and blood vessels that control erections, even with nerve-sparing surgery. Recovery varies with your function before surgery, age, surgical factors and time, and can take many months. A rehabilitation plan from a urologist can help structure recovery, but no outcome can be guaranteed.
Key fact: Nerve recovery after radical prostatectomy can take many months, and nerve-sparing surgery does not guarantee preserved erections. (European Association of Urology, 2026; page updated )
Private & confidential enquiry. You do not need to call.
Key takeaways
- Nerve recovery can take many months.
- Early, structured rehabilitation is a common approach, individualised by the doctor.
- Evidence for PRP after prostatectomy is insufficient to replace guideline-supported care.
Why recovery varies
- Baseline erectile function, age and cardiovascular health influence recovery.
- Whether one or both nerve bundles could be spared matters, but nerve-sparing does not guarantee preserved erections.
- Lack of spontaneous erections early on does not alone predict the final outcome.
Rehabilitation and treatment options
PDE5 tablets
May be used early in some men, if appropriate.
Vacuum erection devices
Can support penile blood flow and tissue health.
Intracavernosal injections
Produce an erection and may be used when tablets are not enough.
Implant
A surgical option when other treatments fail.
Learn more →Your physician
Dr. Niyazi Umut Özdemir
Urological Surgeon, UZ Clinic Antalya
Responsible for assessment and treatment planning at the clinic, with a clinical focus on male sexual health and penile rehabilitation.
Rated 4.5 on Google (47 reviews, as of 2 Oct 2026)Qualifications
- • Medical education at Ege University
- • Specialisation in urology
- • Turkish Association of Urology board certification
- • Clinical practice in Antalya, Turkey
Clinical focus
- • Erectile dysfunction assessment and treatment planning
- • Penile rehabilitation
- • Vasculogenic (blood-flow related) erectile dysfunction
- • Shockwave therapy, PRP and regenerative approaches
Education and roles
- • Ege University Faculty of Medicine (2000); urology specialisation, Ege University (2005)
- • Head of the Antalya branch, CİSED
Professional memberships
- • Turkish Urological Association
- • Society of Urological Surgery (Ürolojik Cerrahi Derneği)
- • European Association of Urology (EAU)
- • Turkish Andrology Association
- • Aegean Urological Association (Ege Üroloji Derneği)
- • Ankara Urologists Association
Ask the urologist about your case
Send your history and the clinic will advise which options may be relevant. Suitability is decided after medical assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Will my erections return after prostatectomy?
It varies. Many men regain some function over time, but outcomes cannot be predicted or guaranteed.
When should rehabilitation start?
Timing is individualised. Ask your surgeon or urologist, and send your details to the clinic if you want a second opinion.
Sources
- EAU Guidelines on Sexual and Reproductive Health: Management of Erectile DysfunctionEuropean Association of Urology, 2026 · Guideline
- Erectile Dysfunction: AUA GuidelineAmerican Urological Association, 2018 · Guideline
Related guides
Send your case for confidential review
You do not need to know which treatment you need. Share a few details and the clinic can advise which options may be relevant to your case.
- 1. Send your caseAbout 2 minutes, private.
- 2. Coordinator contacts youBy WhatsApp, phone or email.
- 3. Doctor assessmentThe urologist decides suitability.
Private & confidential enquiry. You do not need to call.
This page provides general information and does not diagnose ED or decide whether a treatment is suitable for you. Suitability and expected benefit vary between patients and are decided after medical assessment. Treatments described as experimental or investigational are discussed with full informed consent. Seek urgent care for chest pain, new neurological symptoms, penile injury or an erection lasting more than four hours.