What is a potential impact of radiation on sexual function?
Answer
It can cause a gradual decline in erectile function due to nerve and blood vessel damage
Radiation therapy has the potential to affect the delicate nerves and blood vessels that are responsible for achieving and maintaining erections. Unlike some side effects that might appear acutely, the impact on sexual function is often not immediate. Patients may notice a gradual decline in erectile function over a period of time following the course of treatment due to the cumulative impact of radiation on the surrounding vascular and neurological structures.
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