Sexuallivet efter en radikal prostatektomi - upplevelser, information och stöd hos opererade män och deras partner

Abstract

The aim was to describe the experiences of couples where the male partner had undergone radical prostatectomy due to prostate cancer. Furthermore, the study explored how the operation had affected their sexual life, whether the couples had received enough post surgical support and information concerning these issues, and to describe the kind of support and information these couples desired. Twenty men and ten partners participated. All the men experienced a varying degree of post surgical erectile dysfunction and only five men had received support concerning their sexual life. Eleven men desired professional visiting support activities. All the partners experienced a negative effect on their sexual life after the operation. Seven partners had not received any support concerning their sexual life and almost 50 % desired support. The men as well as their partners described that although medication led to some erectile function, it also led to a certain lack of spontaneity in their sexual life. It emerged that there was a reciprocal effect of men and their partner, and for that reason the partner should be included in the nursing. The participants had realistic ideas of what post surgical nursing should comprise.