Sexual function of LUTS patients before and after neodymium laser prostatectomy and transurethral resection of prostate. A prospective, randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE

To assess and compare the sexual function of patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) or Nd:YAG laser treatment for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) caused by obstructing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

98 LUTS patients with urodynamically confirmed bladder outlet obstruction were recruited. Patients were randomised to TURP and laser treatment, which was further divided to contact and hybrid treatments according to prostate size. The sexual function at baseline and at 1 year postoperatively was assessed from the Danish Prostate Symptom Score Sexual Function Questionnaire (DanPSS Sex) items concerned with erectile stiffness, ejaculatory volume and pain or discomfort on ejaculation.

RESULTS

The sexual function data at 1 year was available for 83 patients. At baseline, a high prevalence of erectile dysfunction (86%), ejaculatory volume change (83%) and pain or discomfort on ejaculation (26%) was observed and considered problematic by 79%, 63% and 100% of men, respectively. An increase of total impotence in the TURP group was observed (p = 0.046). TURP decreased or totally eradicated the amount of ejaculate, which was the only difference found between the study groups (p < 0.001). Both laser and TURP treatments improved pain or discomfort on ejaculation.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patients with symptomatic infravesical obstruction caused by BPH is high and perceived mostly as bothersome. TURP, Nd:YAG contact or hybrid laser treatments did not increase erectile dysfunction but improved pain or discomfort on ejaculation. The only significant difference between these treatments in respect to sexual function was a higher incidence of decreased or absent ejaculate after TURP.