3 years post surgery - still require a pad

Hi MGOR

My experience is not very encouraging. Following prostatectomy 15 years ago I am still using a small pad a day. I suffer from arousal climacturia: leakage of urine when sexually excited and at orgasm. Not exactly conducive to any intimate connection. However we have had to rethink our intimate life and have managed to re-establish our sex life within the new normal, with unexpected benefits.  If you are interested in reading about our experience please have a look at the following link:

https://community.prostatecanceruk.org/posts/t28948-Re-establishing-Sex-Life

10 years later, including salvage radiotherapy, I still need pads.

One of the things I have learnt from this forum is that we are all different. Some men are lucky (from my point of view) by returning to complete continence, some leak at a manageable level (like us), and a few have significant ongoing problems. My solution is to take life positively, because I never need more than two pads I know that having a spare in my pocket will see me through the day. Crises only occur if I can't access a discreet place to change.

Hi guys, slightly off piste, I recently got a very sore looking penis ,it is under the penis quite close to the scrotum. It sometimes stings ,a bit like when you trap a few pubic hairs in the foreskin.  I was going to fill in a triage form at the docs, we can't ring for appointments any more, anyway good old Google came to the rescue.  I have a suprapubic catheter but still dibble around 2.5 mls a day into a pad. Being conscious of urine smelling at night I rinse my penis at the sink night before going to bed. Sometimes I use water sometimes I use soap, I think the soreness is caused by not rinsing off the soap. Anyone else with a similar experience.

Thanks Chris 

After 3 years of pelvic floor exercises, your pelvic floor isn't going to get better, at least not by doing the same exercises. There is a possibility you aren't doing them correctly, in which case a session with a pelvic health physiotherapist could help. They could also identify if there's some other issue which needs investigating. It would be worth asking for a pelvic health physiotherapy referral.

You might also try easing off on the pelvic floor exercises to see if that helps. I have come across several people who were over-doing it, and making it worse. 

Any part of the genital area, particularly the penis, when constantly damp causes irritation. I experience this on the foreskin. I find that the most effective method to reduce irritation is to wash and dry the area and then apply some barrier cream - such as what parents use on babies to help with nappy rash.

Interesting. I wonder if this is why mine looks like a dehydrated button mushroom. 🤔 

Hi, MGOR.

I'm sorry to hear that you've still got incontinence issues, mate. Apparently only 10% of those who've had RARP have incontinence 18 months after surgery. May be, as you said, you're just one of the unlucky ones.

I dont know if you've read what our site says

https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information-and-support/living-with-prostate-cancer/urinary-problems

I suppose, after three years, it's a case of are you happy enough to continue as you are or would you consider surgical intervention?

Best of luck, pal.👍

Edited by member 21 May 2026 at 01:39  | Reason: Add link