Multiple Myeloma & Your Sex Life: Dealing With ED

The list of side effects for patients grappling with multiple myeloma (MM) is a long one, but one of the most common side effects of the blood cancer that many men don’t know about is erectile dysfunction.

Men living with multiple myeloma undergo a variety of treatments to combat the illness. These treatments are, most times, the root of the problem for getting and keeping an erection.

For example, thalidomide is a medication regularly given to multiple myeloma patients. But this medicine may cause neuropathy – damage to the nerves, which includes erectile dysfunction as one of its side effects. Chemotherapy and stem cell transplants can lead to issues with hormones that signal erection, according to the Johns Hopkins Medicine website.

Instead of shying away from talking about difficulties getting an erection, men should talk to their doctors about ED and their current cancer treatment. Research has found that erectile dysfunction related to multiple myeloma often goes away with successful MM treatment.

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Here is a list of possible options to treat your ED:

Penile pumps

This option is a pump that is either hand or battery-powered, depending on the brand, and a plastic tube that fits over the penis. In the long run, the pump can help men regain normal sexual function. But it’s best to discuss this option with a physician before use because it can make cancer patients more vulnerable to blood clots.

Testosterone injections

Testosterone is a sex hormone found in a man’s testicle. Injections are provided with a needle every 2 to 4 weeks, usually, and can lead to proper erections.

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ED medications

Viagra, Cialis and Levitra are some of the most common prescription drugs to treat ED. These medications increase the flow of blood to the penis, which leads to an erection.

Vacuum Erection Device

Similar to penile pumps, the vacuum goes over the penis and draws blood into the shaft of the penis to make it swell and become erect. According to research, about 50 to 80 percent of men are satisfied with the vacuum method. But this is another option that should definitely be discussed with a doctor before use.