After prostate removal, the sperm has to go somewhere – but where?
Men who are facing prostate removal due to cancer will surely wonder where their sperm will go after removal of the prostate gland. It’s fair to wonder about this.
First of all, sperm is produced in the testicles.
“The testicles continue to make sperm, but because the vas deferens is clipped and cut, and because there is no prostate or seminal vesicles, there is no ejaculate,” explains Michael Herman, MD, director of urologic oncology at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, NY.
“People can continue to have orgasms, though, because the nerves that have to do with climax are unaffected, and are actually not related to whether or not someone ejaculates.
“The sperm gets broken down and reabsorbed by the body. This is the same process as if someone were abstinent or had a vasectomy.”
In short, prostate removal will not affect sperm production or quantity. It only affects what happens to the sperm once it’s produced.
Unfortunately, removal of the prostate may be more of an issue to a woman than to the man, if she believes she can’t enjoy intimate relations without ejaculations.
Men who have partners like this should focus on all that can be done to treat their prostate cancer and prevent a recurrence.
Women who feel deprived without the ejaculate need a harsh lesson in priorities.
Prostate cancer affects one out of six men as a lifetime risk, and the number it kills every year in the U.S. averages in the high 20,000’s.
Where the sperm goes, though an interesting question, should not rank high on the overall questions list, when all things are considered.
Dr. Herman’s interests include reducing the over-diagnosis and over-treatment of prostate cancer by utilizing the latest biomarkers and imaging techniques. He is at the forefront of treatment and research of urologic cancers.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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