AboutStephen W. Leslie, MD Expertise Questions concerning erectile dysfunction, kidney stones and prostate disorders including prostate cancer. I have a special interest in kidney stone disease prevention.
Experience Full time practicing urologist with 20 years experience. Assistant Clinical Professor of Urology at the Medical College of Ohio. Editor in Chief of eMedicine Urology internet textbook. Author of only book written for patients by a urologist on the subject of kidney stones "The Kidney Stones Handbook". Inventor of the "Parachute" and "Escape" kidney stone baskets and the "Calculus" stone prevention analysis computer program.
Organizations American Urological Association, Ohio State Medical Association, Sexual Medicine Society
Publications Men's Health, Journal of Urology, Urology, Healthwatch Magazine, Emergency Medicine Monthly, eMedicine, "The Kidney Stones Handbook", and numerous articles in various newspapers. He is also the editor of the Urology Board Review by McGraw-Hill used by urologists to study for their Board Certification Examinations.
Education/Credentials Graduate of New York Medical College with residencies completed at Metropolitan Hospital New York, Albany Medical Center and University of Wisconsin-Madison
Awards and Honors Thirlby Award of the American Urological Association.
Question QUESTION: Dr.,
About a year and half ago I got a bad case of prostatitis. It was not diagnosed at first so I was put on flowmax. During this time I was able to get and maintain rigid erections like I had in the past. After a couple of months my prostatitis was diagnosed and I was put on Levaquin 500 mg for 4.5 months. The prostatitis finally cleared up (at least the symptoms) After I was finally clear of the pain and symptoms, I started having difficulty maintaining and getting a rigid erection. Also, my testicles do not become firm when I get an erection like I did for 25 plus years. I am 45 years old now. When I went to the urologist he gave me some Viagra and told me prostatitis can not cause E.D. after it has cleared up. He also told me it was just a coincidence that at 45 years old a lot of men have E.D. problems.
Do you agree with that? I find it unusual that I had very rigid erections before the prostatitis and they are difficult to get and maintain now. Also, when I do get one it is not as large as it was in the past.
Any suggestions?
ANSWER: Chris:
Prostatitis can certainly cause ED, but not when the prostatitis has been successfully treated; only when the prostatitis is active. In these cases, use of Viagra is reasonable. The testicles are not supposed to get firm or hard with an erection. They don't have any mechanism to do so.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks for the reply Doctor.
I should have said my scrotum does not get as tight as it used too. Also, how do I know that the prostatitis is cleared up. Is pain the only symptom? I am just having a hard time accepting that it is a coincidence that I am not getting as erect now that the prostatitis has no symptoms
that I can feel.
Thank you.
Answer Prostatitis may have many symptoms or none. Lack of symptoms and pain is a good sign the prostatitis is not very active although your ED could possibly be considered a symptom. Your physician can tell if the prostatitis has been adequately treated by a rectal exam.
