What are the side effects of prostate cryotherapy?

One of the main benefits of prostate cryotherapy is the lack of side effects compared to surgery and radiation. As with any procedure, there are certain side effects you should be aware of. Those most commonly attributed to Cryotherapy are:

- Impotence

The most common side effect of prostate cryotherapy is impotence (failure to achieve an erection sustainable for intercourse). Because the goal of prostate cryotherapy is to encase the prostate in lethal ice, the ability to form and maintain erections may be impacted. Approximately 50-85% of men have their potency affected following cryotherapy. You should take this into consideration when considering your treatment options.

Many patients have had success regaining erections through what is called penile rehabilitation, which combines medication (i.e. Viagra) and a vacuum device. By combining these therapies, close to 50% of men have been able to regain potency after two years.

- Incontinence

The incontinence rate for cryotherapy is very low compared to other salvage treatments. The risk of incontinence, however, is slightly higher with salvage cryotherapy than with primary cryotherapy. A recent article reported 2-4% of patients were incontinent after salvage cryotherapy, compared to 1-3% with primary cryotherapy.