Surgery is the most radical treatment of specific disease conditions. Improvement in the safety of surgical procedures has also contributed to a rise in such treatments. The WHO estimates that each year around 240 million surgical treatments are done around the globe (1).
Most people undergo surgery for severe health issues. This means that in most such men, erectile dysfunction may already be present. Surgical treatment may make things worse for many.
Numerous Reasons for Erectile Dysfunction Post-Surgery
Surgery is undoubtedly a shock for a human body. For a certain period, it causes worsening of many body functions.
There are many reasons for poor erectile function and need for Viagra after surgery in men (2):
- It results in anxiety and other mood disorders
- It is a painful condition that needs time to heal
- It results in reduced energy and mobility
- It results in muscle wasting
- It causes disruptions in sleep
- It results in an altered appetite
- It increases the risk of infections and other health issues
Lots also depend on the age of the patient. Regretfully, the vast majority of patients undergoing surgery are adults older than forty years of age. In middle-aged adults or older, metabolism is much slower, and so is the recovery.
The above issues may happen due to any major surgery. However, the risk of erectile dysfunction is higher if the cause of operation is a prostate disease.
Prostate Diseases Are a Common Reason for Erectile Dysfunction
Prostate issues require a separate discussion, as they are common in older adults already living with erectile dysfunction. Regretfully, the treatment of prostate conditions may only worsen the sexual life of these adults.
The majority of older adults develop a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Epidemiological data shows that more than half of men will have this problem after the age of 60. BPH is not rare among males older than 40 years of age (3).
Erectile dysfunction is one of the early signs of BPH. It happens as individuals diagnosed with the condition have a faulty lifestyle. BPH risk is higher in people with an unbalanced diet, lack of physical activity, high alcohol consumption, obesity. Many of them have other health conditions like hypertension or diabetes.
More worrisome than BPH is the rise of prostate cancer in older adults. Prostate cancer is not rare among men older than 65 years of age. It is one of the foremost causes of death among men globally. It is also the major cause of loss of interest in sex in older adults (4).
A large number of men diagnosed with BPH and most of those diagnosed with prostate cancer would go through the surgical removal of the prostate. However, such surgery only worsens the sexual health.
Prostate Surgery
Prostate surgery is a safe and effective treatment of BPH, and necessity in most cases of prostate cancer. However, most men, after such a procedure, would suffer from severe erectile problems and would require treatment with Viagra – if they want to preserve their sexual life.
There are many reasons for the worsening of erection quality after prostate surgery. During prostate surgery, local blood vessels get damaged. Additionally, in many individuals, it may also result in trauma to local nerves. A clinical study published in The Journal of Urology shows that sildenafil/Viagra can help most such men to significantly improve their sexual life with the help of Viagra (5).
Starting Taking Viagra After Surgery
Now coming to the main question about how soon one can begin to take Viagra after surgery. Here, there are no right answers, as every surgery differs. However, most people can start taking or regularly using it after two months of surgery. Generally, two months are enough for the healing of surgical scars. However, in certain operations, it may take longer.
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For older adults, it is always better to consult a treating doctor, as in certain kinds of surgeries, one cannot start taking Viagra soon. Just take an example of heart surgery – Viagra is not bad for heart, but taking it may cause overexertion due to increased sexual activity and thus increasing the risk.
Age is another factor for deciding how soon one can start taking Viagra after surgery. Older adults, like those above the age of 70, require much more time to recover.
Additionally, the presence of other metabolic disorders that affect recovery will influence any decision regarding Viagra. Thus, a person living with diabetes has a longer healing time.
Another vital thing to know is that not to take Viagra a few days before surgery. American Association of Nurse Anesthetists warns that a high level of NO caused by sildenafil may dangerously reduce blood pressure during surgery (6).
What Do We Conclude About Taking Viagra After Surgery?
In most cases, it would take about two months or longer before starting to take Viagra. It is not due to any direct risk related to Viagra. It is necessary to prevent overexertion and overexcitement in the critical period.
Can a doctor prescribe Viagra soon after surgery? Yes, that is the reason that one should better consult a doctor. In many cases, especially after less invasive surgeries, a doctor may recommend starting Viagra quite early, or even soon after surgery. In some cases, taking Viagra soon after Surgery may help prevent the worsening of sexual health (7).
