Hi Everyone, just joined to see if anyone could give me some advice:

Maybe 6 years ago, I had a seton sling for a recurring fistula that was too deep into the sphincter muscle to just cut and drain (although that had been tried a few times previously). Gratefully, the operation seems to have fixed the fistula and it's not returned since.

What the doctor DIDN'T tell me is that the sphincter is highly involved in keeping blood in the penis during an erection.
Once the sling was cut out, I could tell everything felt 'loose' compared to pre-op. I used to have bad gas at the time, and I was farting all the time with absolutely NO control due to what felt like a weaker 'arse' muscle.

Just by myself, I could also tell that erections were maybe only half as hard as they used to be. It was (still is) much harder to reach ejaculation, ESPECIALLY if there is lots of physical movement. I believe this is because the sphincter works like a valve to keep the blood where it should be during fun. If the valve is weak, blood leaks back into the rest of your body (understandably, it's being asked for lots of physical activity!). It deflates and then you're left with one pissed off partner Myself, and sans partner, it's not AS BAD, but still nothing like it used to be. It's possible to finish, but it damn near kills me cardio-wise (talking feeling like passing out), and even then it's about 10-20% of the time. And obviously anything like added stress etc doesn't help, just compounds the situation. BUT, due to the night and day difference I could feel after my operation, and how the first sex was immediately aftter, I KNOW it's not just in my mind. My arse felt LOOSE compared to before!

Anyway - I've read of an operation called a 'sphincteroplasty' and a few studies where this operation was able to restore/improve erectile function in those who'd have an operation to address a fistula, and I'm seeing a surgeon tomorrow to see what he knows about it. Was just curious if anyone had an experience like this or had a sphincteroplasty or, failing that, can identify with my woes and has any ideas? Kegels did bugger all!

You probably should see a doc for the front end. To many other non surgical options for ED to jump in and do something that could make you worse. If you have a lot of gas I suspect your diet, I use to also, not anymore. Don't know your age or health but I had the "out of breath and struggling" issues also. I changed to a healthy diet, lost 35 pounds and started brisk walking. Made a tremendous improvement in my health, gas and bedroom abilities, good luck.

Thanks myrear. Yeah - this colorectal Dr did no doctor (even urologist or ED specialist) will touch the sphincter because he didn't think it was related, and that there was too much risk considering it mostly works ok except for sex.

But I know it is related because I've read it in multiple sources and this issue only started immediately after the seton. He was just dismissive.

I don't have gas any more, that was in the past beefier I had my IBS under control. I was just making they point that the sphincter was looser than it should be because I was suddenly farting with no control vs pre-op.

I'm 36yo, 5'7 and 64kg (and have been around that size the whole time), so fitness isn't an issue. It's the fact that the sphincter can more no longer maintain the blood in the penis if I ask my body to do much else beside keep an erection, because of the difference in blood pressure required for physical activity vs the erection. It's not quite as bad if I stay still (but still nowhere as good as it used to be).

I may go see an ED person, but if they won't address the issue at what I know for a fact is the root cause, I'm pretty doubtful I'll get the result I want. I don't want to use Viagra (blindness/deafness in some people), nor use any kind of body modification (pump) when I know THIS is the cause! :-(

Don't believe all the horror stories hype for Viagra or Cialis. I have used them both for years. To me it was more important to maintain a healthy sex life with my wife and well worth the risks and cost to use them. Give them a try, your doc may even have free office samples for both so you can try them both. Viagra gives up to a good 4 hours after taking it, Cialis about 36 hour window. I am almost 56 and started having issues about your age. Everyone is different. DONT PLAN TO FAIL BEFORE TAKING THEM. You can mentally sabotage yourself. Sometimes get a slight headache but nothing else. They work great for me.

Not the same issue as such but there is definitely some link between the sphincter area and erections. I had a seton in place but it failed last Thursday. Was only there for 8 days. The point is though that erections were absolute agony up until that point, not that I was seeking them out post surgery but you know what it’s like.

This week it’s still not normal and reaching orgasm takes longer due to the pain, though I would say for me the blood flow seems to have increased which is equally as uncomfortable but manageable. Still not much in the mood for it though much to my partners disappointment!

Just wanted to chime in though and say if you haven’t already I would definitely get it checked out as I can easily see some correlation between the two issues. Hope you get things sorted.

Andy