Does surgery for bladder cancer cause ED?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) can occur as a result of undergoing surgery for bladder cancer. Relatively new procedures for removing bladder tumors have been developed that can avoid damaging nerves needed to produce erections. However, these procedures are most effective in younger patients whose cancer has not spread widely. If you develop erectile dysfunction after having surgery for bladder cancer, talk to your doctor about treatment options.

Surgery for bladder cancer can cause erectile dysfunction. When the bladder is completely removed, the prostate is often removed as well. Nerves that send signals to cause an erection run very close to the prostate, and these may be damaged in the surgery. In recent years, surgeons have been working on methods to avoid damaging these nerves during surgery. And many men who lose the ability to get erections during this surgery are able to recover the ability later.