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After years of uncertainty, Andy found a solution that helped him regain confidence, intimacy and spontaneity.
When Andy Barham was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2012, he considered himself fortunate. The cancer had been caught early, and surgery to remove his prostate was successful.
“They got everything,” says Andy. “I was cancer-free, which was the most important thing.”
However, the operation left him facing an unexpected long-term challenge. During surgery, one of the nerves involved in achieving an erection was damaged, resulting in erectile dysfunction (ED).
“At first, I thought it would be temporary,” he says. “Nobody sat me down and said, ‘You’ll never have another natural erection.’ It was something I gradually came to realise over the following months.”
Like many men experiencing ED, Andy explored a range of treatment options in the hope of finding a solution.
“I was trying everything,” he recalls. “I felt like I was clutching at straws. Looking back, some of the treatments were never really going to work for my situation. The only thing that helped involved injecting medication, but it took time to work and it just wasn’t something I felt I could rely on in the long term.”
The impact extended far beyond the physical symptoms.
“It put a strain on me emotionally,” he says. “My wife, Sue, was incredibly supportive, but I put a lot of pressure on myself. We knew we’d get through it together, but intimacy is an important part of many relationships, and when that’s affected, it can have a real impact on your confidence and wellbeing.”
Over time, the emotional burden became increasingly difficult to manage.
“I couldn’t see an end to the problem,” says Andy. “It affected my mental health significantly. There were times when I felt overwhelmed because I couldn’t imagine finding a lasting solution.”
A common but often overlooked condition
Erectile dysfunction affects millions of men worldwide and is more common than many people realise. Research suggests that around 40 per cent of men over the age of 40 experience some degree of erectile dysfunction, with prevalence increasing as men get older. It can also be linked to conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, lifestyle factors including smoking, certain medications, stress and anxiety, or the side effects of treatments such as prostate cancer surgery.
For men who have not achieved satisfactory results with other treatment options, a penile implant may be considered. These devices are surgically placed inside the penis and can provide an erection when desired. Depending on the type of implant, they can be either inflatable or malleable. The inflatable implant is designed to mimic the look and performance of a natural erection. The implant has three parts: a reservoir placed in the abdomen; two cylinders placed in the penis; and a pump placed in the scrotum. When you squeeze the pump fluid moves from the reservoir into the cylinders in the shaft of the penis, creating an erection. A malleable has two rods placed in the shaft of the penis. There are no other parts to this implant. To have an erection you simply hold the penis and move into the desired position. Patients report high satisfaction rates post implant surgery.
As part of his search for answers, Andy began researching penile implants.
“When I first looked online, I came across some negative stories, which naturally made me nervous,” he says. “But the more I researched and the more information I found from reputable medical sources, the more convinced I became that this was the right path for me.”
Following surgery and a short recovery period, Andy was pleased with the outcome.
“The procedure itself went very smoothly, and after recovering I felt like I’d got a big part of my life back,” he says. “What I value most is the spontaneity. It’s allowed me to feel more like myself again.”
Today, Andy hopes that sharing his experience will encourage other men to seek help and explore the treatment options available to them.“There are many different reasons why someone might experience erectile dysfunction,” he says. “I also live with diabetes, which is another significant risk factor. What I’ve learned is that you don’t have to suffer in silence. There are treatments available, and for me, finding one that worked felt like finding the missing piece of the jigsaw.”
“Everyone’s journey is different, but having the confidence to talk about it and seek support can be the first step towards getting your quality of life back.”
Erectile dysfunction affects millions of men and can have a significant impact on confidence, relationships and quality of life. Yet despite how common it is, many men suffer in silence. The good news is that specialist help is available, with dedicated clinicians supporting men every day to find treatments that work for them. To find out more, speak to Andy about his journey or book a free consultation with Clare below.
Interested in speaking with a Coloplast Patient Educator? Visit www.erectile-dysfunction-solutions.uk/get-the-right-support/.
Alternatively, speak to a Men’s Health Nurse Specialist, Clare Akers, on 07703 477315 for further information and support. Email: [email protected].
Listen to the Straight to the Point podcast, featuring nurses, surgeons and patient advocate Andy Barham discussing erectile dysfunction, recognising when to seek help, and the treatment options available: coloplast-iu.captivate.fm/listen.
