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Penile Shortening After Urethroplasty?
Greetings All,
It's three weeks after my excision primary anastomosis urethroplasty to correct a stricture in the bulbar urethra. I'm unsure of the stricture's exact length -- when I phoned to ask, I was told it wasn't included in the surgical notes -- but it was estimated 1.5-2.0 cm.
The reason I'm writing is that I've noticed a pronounced penile shortening, or rather a reduced erectile length, and am wondering about others' experiences. Has anyone else had this? Or, was your erectile length always the same? I'd say my erectile length is only at best about 50-60% of what it was before surgery. I'm hoping others have seen this and that the issue resolved fully in time.
When I asked one of my doctors about this over the phone, he reminded me that he warned of possible erectile dysfunction for up to six months after surgery. ED to me means difficulty attaining or maintaining an erection, not penile shortening (!), but I guess that's beside the point. The doctor added that the catheter prevents full erection, which I can accept, but the catheter is out now and I see no improvement. He assured me that I should return to normal in time and emphasized that I'm not achieving a full erection because that my penis underwent significant trauma.
The doctor also said that he's never seen erectile shortening with the type of surgery and stricture length I had, but I'm seeing medical surveys online showing 22-25% incidence of penile shortening after the same operation and stricture size. I don't doubt my physicians, but am just struggling to reconcile apparently conflicting information.
I specifically asked my doctors before the surgery multiple times about possible complications and cosmetic outcomes and never once was possible penile shortening mentioned. Stroke, heart attack and death were mentioned as risks during surgery and failure, recurrence, and ED were mentioned as possible side effects of the procedure. Also, scars at the incision site, of course.
I plan to ask my doctors again at a follow-up if the condition doesn't improve, but in the meantime, I would really appreciate any insight others can share.
Erectile length probably shouldn't matter if the surgery is otherwise successful, but I would've preferred at the very least a warning about the risk of shortening -- even if temporary -- so I could've at least psychologically prepared for the possibility or perhaps opted for another treatment.
I'm really hoping someone out there can confirm this reduced erection length is normal and temporary.
As a 32-year old single guy who wasn't overly thrilled with my length before, cutting it in half is not an idea I relish, to say the least. :/ Hope you can understand.
Thanks very much for reading and especially for sharing any insights. I searched the boards to see if this has been discussed before and didn't turn up anything, sorry if I just missed it.
It's three weeks after my excision primary anastomosis urethroplasty to correct a stricture in the bulbar urethra. I'm unsure of the stricture's exact length -- when I phoned to ask, I was told it wasn't included in the surgical notes -- but it was estimated 1.5-2.0 cm.
The reason I'm writing is that I've noticed a pronounced penile shortening, or rather a reduced erectile length, and am wondering about others' experiences. Has anyone else had this? Or, was your erectile length always the same? I'd say my erectile length is only at best about 50-60% of what it was before surgery. I'm hoping others have seen this and that the issue resolved fully in time.
When I asked one of my doctors about this over the phone, he reminded me that he warned of possible erectile dysfunction for up to six months after surgery. ED to me means difficulty attaining or maintaining an erection, not penile shortening (!), but I guess that's beside the point. The doctor added that the catheter prevents full erection, which I can accept, but the catheter is out now and I see no improvement. He assured me that I should return to normal in time and emphasized that I'm not achieving a full erection because that my penis underwent significant trauma.
The doctor also said that he's never seen erectile shortening with the type of surgery and stricture length I had, but I'm seeing medical surveys online showing 22-25% incidence of penile shortening after the same operation and stricture size. I don't doubt my physicians, but am just struggling to reconcile apparently conflicting information.
I specifically asked my doctors before the surgery multiple times about possible complications and cosmetic outcomes and never once was possible penile shortening mentioned. Stroke, heart attack and death were mentioned as risks during surgery and failure, recurrence, and ED were mentioned as possible side effects of the procedure. Also, scars at the incision site, of course.
I plan to ask my doctors again at a follow-up if the condition doesn't improve, but in the meantime, I would really appreciate any insight others can share.
Erectile length probably shouldn't matter if the surgery is otherwise successful, but I would've preferred at the very least a warning about the risk of shortening -- even if temporary -- so I could've at least psychologically prepared for the possibility or perhaps opted for another treatment.
I'm really hoping someone out there can confirm this reduced erection length is normal and temporary.
As a 32-year old single guy who wasn't overly thrilled with my length before, cutting it in half is not an idea I relish, to say the least. :/ Hope you can understand.
Thanks very much for reading and especially for sharing any insights. I searched the boards to see if this has been discussed before and didn't turn up anything, sorry if I just missed it.
I had an urethraplasty August 16 of this year. I had two closely grouped strictures and did not receive a graft. I had my catheter removed after two weeks and was told I could return to sexual activity. I wanted to try it out before doing anything with my wife. Pre-surgery I was 7 inches erect. That first time I was maybe 4, pointed straight down, felt tight, I couldn't flex the head anymore, and was very sore. I went online to see if this was common and found this thread and was devasted reading everyone's story. I called my surgeon and he told me that I had been through a major trauma and would need time to heal. He also told me that my urethra needed to stretch back out. He told me with each erection it would get better and better. I also, after a couple days, started to dribble at the end of urination and had an odd sensation in the shaft of my penis. With this he brought me back into his office. I had a prostate infection from the catheter and he prescribed two months antibiotics. After being on the antibiotics a week my stream was awesome and the odd sensation gone. With the erections I treated it like I was rehabbing an injury. I got and maintained an erection multiple times a day. I would practice flexing in reps. Now, after 2.5 weeks for the first time my erection measured 7 inches again, points outs, I can mostly flex the tip, and the soreness is gone. It does still feel slightly tight and curves a little when it didn't before, but I feel whole again for the first time since the surgery. My surgeon was Doctor Metro with Temple University. I recommend him to any and everyone. I felt a responsibility to write on this thread and share what I did during recovery to get back to normal. Good luck.
1 Comments
Earlier in my posti said 2.5 weeks, I meant 2.5 months.
have things changed since your post I just had this surgery done and the catheter came out yesterday and I am having the same issues and I was not informed of this posibility and want to know if this improves over time or not
I had my surgery 8 days ago and still have the catheter inside. My biggest worry was having an erection during sleep as I thought this would cause stretching and pain to the surgical area. It wasn't until about 4-5 days after surgery I got my first erection during sleep. I want to tell you I am a bit squeemish and don't like looking or feeling around the area that was worked on. So while in sleep during the erection everything became very tight and seems to be very hard. I want to tell my normal erection was at least 6 inches and now seems to be zero inches. In flaccid state the penis stays below the surface and during sleep erections, the penis is still below the surface. Now I'm not going to stretch it while it's flaccid when the catheter is still in but I hope things will be normal. I can't imagine a half inch to 3/4 inch surgery would reduce my penis by a whole 6 inches. My catheter will stay in for 24 days. I will post follow ups.
2 Comments
This is an update and it has been 13 months since my surgery. Over time my penis kept getting longer as it was healing. However I can tell you that I lost about 1 1/2 inches of my original length, maybe more. Erections are a little painful. I don't know where the other inch and a half went to. My guess is that somehow they restricted it by stitching it in or the tissue implant does not stretch like the original tissue.
Any improvements on the situation? Did you get back the 1.5 inches? Im 7 months in to healing and having the same issue
Dr. Kulkarni is a well known expert in urethroplasty surgeon in Pune you can for sure consult him. In Bangalore you can Visit Fortis Hospital and meet Dr. Mohan Keshava Murthy
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And for your question; my erections are only about 60-70% of what they were before surgery, i sometimes am able to flex the slightest bit now, but hardly at all. It's as if it doesnt have it in it anymore. I too am a bit worried about this one, i mean im only 18 years old! Wish my doctor had warned me about this. I wasnt to thrilled with my size before either. Now im almost embarressed! I go back for a checkup in 1 1/2 months. i will ask him about this then, and keep you posted if the asnwer is any different than what you had been told. On the bright side, the flow is stronger than ever! Hope you have a speedy and full recovery too!