AUTHOR=Zhang Haiyu , Liu Zhen , Ye Yongmei , Long Xiaolian , Yu Tuan , Zhang Yuxi , Dai Ziling , Du Juan , Chen Ling 

TITLE=Experience of sexual relationship of patients after radical prostatectomy: a qualitative study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1516544

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1516544

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=BackgroundThere are different degrees of erectile dysfunction in men after radical prostatectomy, and it takes a long time for their sexual satisfaction to improve. Before the recovery of sexual function, the patient’s sexual relationship experience may change, which may affect the patient’s family stability. Therefore, the present study aimed to comprehensively understand the sexual relationship experience of patients after radical prostatectomy.MethodsThe present study was a qualitative study using the phenomenological method. Purposive sampling was used to select 16 patients with prostate cancer who were followed up after radical prostatectomy in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, and semi-structured interviews were conducted. Colaizzi’s seven-step process for the phenomenological approach was applied to data analysis.ResultsFour themes and 11 subcategories were identified. Four major themes were “differences in the expression of sexual needs,” “changes in sexual behavior,” “changes in intimacy between spouses,” and “changes in role cognition,” respectively.ConclusionAfter radical prostatectomy, many changes occur in the relationship between the sexes. Medical staff should actively guide the relationship between the sexes to help patients and their spouses face up to the changes after surgery, to help improve the relationship between the sexes and improve their quality of life.