Measurement of benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment effects on male sexual function

Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy (TUMT) in the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Preliminary Report

BACKGROUND One treatment option for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT). Unfortunately, TUMT has been increasingly marginalized recently. The aim of this study was to evaluate erectile function and urinary symptoms in patients after TUMT for BPH and compare the results with those of patients on pharmacological treatment for BPH. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study group consisted of 840 patients with BPH treated with TUMT and a control group consisting of 1040 patients who underwent pharmacotherapy. Erectile dysfunction was evaluated using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 questionnaire and the Individual Postoperative Erectile Assessment (IPEA) questionnaire, which was created by the authors for this study. Urinary symptoms were evaluated using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire. RESULTS More than 50% of all patients experienced an improvement in urinary symptoms after TUMT, compared with only approximately 30% in the control group. Differences in each of the IPSS symptom scales between the TUMT and control groups were statistically significant (P<0.031, P<0.041, and P<0.025 for mild, moderate, and severe symptoms, respectively). Improvement in erectile dysfunction after TUMT was also statistically significant (P<0.0001, P<0.0001, P<0.05 for mild, moderate, and severe erectile dysfunction, respectively). Based on the IPEA questionnaire, approximately 24% of the TUMT group reported significant improvement in erectile function, while a decrease in erectile function was reported in the control group. CONCLUSIONS TUMT may still be a valuable option in the treatment of BPH. TUMT may be especially suitable for patients who expect to improve urinary symptoms without decreasing erectile function.

Implicit and Explicit Associations with Erotic Stimuli in Sexually Functional and Dysfunctional Men

INTRODUCTION

Although conceptual models of sexual functioning have suggested a major role for implicit cognitive processing in sexual functioning, this has thus far, only been investigated in women.

AIM

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of implicit cognition in sexual functioning in men.

METHODS

Men with (N = 29) and without sexual dysfunction (N = 31) were compared.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Participants performed two single-target implicit association tests (ST-IAT), measuring the implicit association of visual erotic stimuli with attributes representing, respectively, valence ('liking') and motivation ('wanting'). Participants also rated the erotic pictures that were shown in the ST-IAT on the dimensions of valence, attractiveness, and sexual excitement to assess their explicit associations with these erotic stimuli. Participants completed the International Index of Erectile Functioning for a continuous measure of sexual functioning.

RESULTS

Unexpectedly, compared with sexually functional men, sexually dysfunctional men were found to show stronger implicit associations of erotic stimuli with positive valence than with negative valence. Level of sexual functioning, however, was not predicted by explicit nor implicit associations. Level of sexual distress was predicted by explicit valence ratings, with positive ratings predicting higher levels of sexual distress.

CONCLUSIONS

Men with and without sexual dysfunction differed significantly with regard to implicit liking. Research recommendations and implications are discussed.

Improving BPH symptoms and sexual dysfunctions with a saw palmetto preparation? Results from a pilot trial

In elderly men, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a major risk factor for sexual dysfunctions (SDys). Additionally, the standard treatments for BPH symptoms, alpha blockers and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, cause SDys themselves. Preparations from saw palmetto berries are an efficacious and well-tolerated symptomatic treatment for mild to moderate BPH and have traditionally been used to treat SDys. We conducted an open multicentric clinical pilot trial to investigate whether the saw palmetto berry preparation Prostasan® influenced BPH symptoms and SDys. Eighty-two patients participated in the 8-week trial, taking one capsule of 320 mg saw palmetto extract daily. At the end of the treatment, the International Prostate Symptom Score was reduced from 14.4 ± 4.7 to 6.9 ± 5.2 (p < 0.0001); SDys measured with the brief Sexual Function Inventory improved from 22.4 ± 7.2 to 31.4 ± 9.2 (p < 0.0001), and the Urolife BPH QoL-9 sex total improved from 137.3 ± 47.9 to 195.0 ± 56.3 (p < 0.0001). Investigators' and patients' assessments confirmed the good efficacy, and treatment was very well tolerated and accepted by the patients. Correlation analyses confirmed the relationship between improved BPH symptoms and reduced SDys. This was the first trial with saw palmetto to show improvement in BPH symptoms and SDys as well. [Corrections made here after initial online publication.]

Benign prostatic hyperplasia: current clinical practice

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common benign adenoma in men, affecting nearly all of them. BPH represents a clinically significant cause of bladder outflow obstruction in up to 40% of men. The growing frequency of diagnosis is due to increasing life expectancy and a trend toward seeking medical advice at earlier stages of the disease. The last decade has witnessed a significant shift in emphasis in the management of BPH, with medical therapies and, to a lesser extent, minimally invasive therapies becoming the predominant active therapy choices. The development of effective therapies such as alpha-adrenergic blockers and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors and the possibility of their combined use represent the most significant advance in the treatment of BPH.