Korean J Urol.  2012 Feb;53(2):104-108.

Serial Changes in Sexual Function Following Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate: A Short-term Follow-up Study

• Jeong MS
• Ha SB
• Lee CJ
• Cho MC
• Kim SW
• Paick JS

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the serial changes in sexual function in the short-term period after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and to investigate whether a change in each domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) is associated with improvement of micturition.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Thirty-eight potent men who underwent HoLEP and in whom complete 12-month follow-up data on the IIEF were available were included in this retrospective study. All patients underwent a baseline evaluation for BPH. The surgical outcome was evaluated at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively by use of the International Prostate Symptom Score, IIEF, and uroflowmetry.
RESULTS
The mean age and body mass index of the patients was 64.5+/-6.2 years and 24.2+/-2.6 kg/m2, respectively. Mean total prostate volume and transitional zone volume were 48.8+/-18.8 ml and 24.2+/-16.1 ml, respectively. Most IIEF domain scores showed a slight decrease at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery but recovered to the baseline or showed a marginal but nonsignificant increase at 12 months postoperatively compared with baseline. Orgasmic function and the overall sexual satisfaction domain score remained slightly reduced up to 12 months postoperatively. There was no significant correlation between improvement of micturition and change in sexual function throughout the follow-up period after surgery.
CONCLUSIONS
Although HoLEP achieves significant improvements in micturition, overall sexual function decreases slightly in the early postoperative period, but recovers to the baseline at 12 months postoperatively. Our data suggest that changes in sexual function after HoLEP are not associated with improvement of micturition.

Keyword

Erectile dysfunction; Holmium; Lasers; Prostatic hyperplasia

MeSH Terms

Body Mass Index
Erectile Dysfunction
Follow-Up Studies
Holmium
Humans
Lasers, Solid-State
Male
Orgasm
Postoperative Period
Prostate
Prostatic Hyperplasia
Retrospective Studies
Urination
Holmium

Figure

• 

  FIG. 1 Prevalence and severity of erectile dysfunction according to the follow-up period after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate. ED, erectile dysfunction.

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