A common erectile dysfunction medication could help reduce scar tissue after radical prostate surgery, say doctors at Baylor College of Medicine.
Dr. Larry Lipshultz, professor of urology, and Dr. Mohit Khera, clinical post doctorate fellow of urology, will follow 60 men after they undergo total removal of the prostate due to cancer.
"After surgery, many men find themselves suffering from erectile dysfunction," Khera said. "Nerves in the area become damaged and blood flow decreases."
Many delay their treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) hoping their erections will improve, but Khera said that allows scar tissue to form. The scar tissue can then make it difficult for men to regain their natural penile functions. Read more about ED.
"The study uses Viagra which will be taken every night before bed to increase the flow of blood and oxygen to the penis during sexual content dreams, which happen on average three times a night for men," Lipshultz said. "Better oxygen and blood flow promotes healthy tissue instead of scar tissue."
This study is a follow-up to one Lipshultz worked on four years ago. The results to the first study showed the return of unassisted erections to be 24 percent more than without the therapy. This current study will begin the treatment sooner than in the first study, hoping the recovery rate will increase.
"We are finding that a daily dose helps men get a faster return of natural erection and they heal faster." Khera said. "Patients with low testosterone levels after surgery do not respond well to Viagra, so we are adding testosterone replacement therapy in these patients as well."
Lipshultz and Khera still advise their patients to refrain from sexual intercourse for at least three months after surgery.
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