What happens to a man if you get most your prostate removed?

Understanding Radical Prostatectomy Recovery and Side Effects

When a man undergoes a radical prostatectomy—a procedure to remove all or most of the prostate gland, usually to treat prostate cancer—it brings significant changes to his body. While the surgery is often a vital step in healthcare, it comes with specific risks and recovery challenges that patients navigate.

One of the most immediate physical concerns during recovery is the risk of blood clots, which doctors monitor closely. Beyond immediate post-surgical care, two of the most common and widely discussed long-term side effects involve urinary control and sexual function.

Urinary incontinence—the temporary or sometimes lasting loss of bladder control—is very common right after the catheter is removed. Fortunately, for many men, this control improves significantly over time with pelvic floor physical therapy and healing. Another frequent challenge is erectile dysfunction, or trouble achieving an erection firm enough for sexual activity. Because the nerves responsible for erections run very close to the prostate, they can be impacted during the surgery, though nerve-sparing techniques have improved outcomes for many patients.

Navigating life after prostate removal involves patience, close communication with medical teams, and often supportive therapies to help men regain their quality of life.