Penile erection is a complex interaction of both halves of your autonomic (automatic) nervous system, your blood circulation, and your emotions. Therefore, symptoms may suggest a psychological problem, such as depression, and/or a medical problem, such as diabetes. Any one of these conditions can lead to erectile dysfunction.

Symptoms include:

  • A less firm penis
  • Fewer erections
  • Fewer spontaneous nighttime erections

Note that sensation in your penis comes from nerves other than the ones that cause erection. Those nerves may not be affected when the erectile nerves are, and those nerves are not damaged by prostate surgery. Therefore sensation is likely to be preserved. Orgasm is possible without erection. Restoring erections is sufficient to restore complete sexual function.