I have previously written about sexual function and how it changes after prostate cancer surgery.
As men are being diagnosed with prostate cancer at a younger age and at an earlier stage, the preservation of erectile function and the ability to maintain satisfactory erections has become more important. My partners and I offer a variety of options to assist in the recovery of erections including having a vacuum device specialist come in to the office once a month, teaching patients how to give penile injections and intra-urethral suppositories, and prescribing viagra, levitra, and cialis on a maintenance, preventative basis.
One of the most frustrating things is insurance companies not paying for maintenance medicines even though most urologists feel these medicines help erections return sooner and possibly more fully. There was an excellent review of the literature by Dr. McCullough of NYU that I read this weekend. He is one of the world’s authorities on erectile dysfunction.
This is a great source of information for urologists who can receive 1.5 CME credits.
I will start giving this link out to patients with a letter to see if it helps get them at least partial payment from insurance companies.
I hope patients report any positive experiences with insurance companies paying for their PDE5 inhibitors after surgery.
I have been personally prescribing 1/2 of a pill of the maximum strength to be taken on Mon, Wed, and Friday evenings.