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European Urology Focus Jul 2022Focal therapy has emerged as a promising option to treat well-selected men with localised prostate cancer while preserving healthy prostate tissue and key structures,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
CONTEXT
Focal therapy has emerged as a promising option to treat well-selected men with localised prostate cancer while preserving healthy prostate tissue and key structures, such as the urethral sphincter and neurovascular bundles. However, how this tissue preservation may translate into improved outcomes, particularly into improved sexual outcomes, is still an active research field.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to summarise the existing evidence, in order to provide patients with updated data on what to expect after treatment and help identify gaps in current knowledge that may warrant future research.
EVIDENCE ACQUISITION
A systematic literature search was conducted on Medline, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science. The search strategy was defined using the "litsearchr" function in R based on a preliminary "naïve" search using the following terms on Medline: (("focal therapy" OR "focal treatment") AND ("prostate cancer") AND ("sexual function" OR "erectile function")). A total of 42 studies, comprising 3117 patients treated and 2352 with available sexual outcomes, were included in the qualitative data synthesis and 26 in a random-effect meta-analysis.
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS
The five-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) was the most frequently used questionnaire (30/42 studies), with completion rates ranging from 24% to 100% at 18-24 mo. A decrease was noted at 3 mo (IIEF-5 decrease estimate -3.70 [95% confidence interval -4.43, -2.96]), with improvements at 6 mo (-2.18 [-2.91, -1.46]) and 12 mo (-2.14 [-2.96, -1.32]). Studies in which patients had an altered baseline sexual function were more likely to report a significant and durable postoperative decrease in erectile function scores. The patient-reported outcome questionnaires used were not designed for a diverse population. Functional outcomes were not the primary endpoint and have not been reported consistently in most studies considered.
CONCLUSIONS
Focal therapy led to changes in erectile function in most cases under the significance threshold of the patient-reported outcome questionnaires used. However, patients should be counselled according to their baseline erectile function. More research is warranted to detail aspects other than erectile function, such as ejaculation or orgasm. The early postoperative period appears key to study sexual changes after focal therapy, while only a moderate decrease is expected at 12 mo.
PATIENT SUMMARY
We reviewed the published literature detailing the sexual consequences of focal therapy for localised prostate cancer using patient-reported outcome questionnaires. Patients were likely to describe a significant decrease in their erectile function at 3 mo, with improvements noted at 6 and 12 mo. The results obtained may not be reproducible in a more diverse population, and further research is warranted to better study aspects other than erectile function, such as ejaculation or orgasm.
Topics: Erectile Dysfunction; Humans; Male; Penile Erection; Prostate; Prostatic Neoplasms; Sexual Behavior
PubMed: 34580049
DOI: 10.1016/j.euf.2021.09.009 -
PloS One 2022Penile cancer is a rare but debilitating condition, which often requires aggressive treatment. Partial penectomy is considered as a treatment option when a sufficient...
Penile cancer is a rare but debilitating condition, which often requires aggressive treatment. Partial penectomy is considered as a treatment option when a sufficient portion of the penile shaft can be maintained to preserve functionality. This systematic review, which followed the PRIMSA guidelines, aimed to evaluate the effects of partial penectomy for penile cancer on sexual function-the maintenance of which is often a priority in patient groups-and to identify potential factors which may moderate these effects. A systematic search of PubMed, The Cochrane Library, and Open Grey as well as MEDLINE, CINAHL and Open Dissertations via EBSCOhost was conducted from inception through to 24th March, 2022. Studies were required to include adults aged ≥18 years who had undergone partial penectomy for the treatment of penile cancer, with a quantitative measure of sexual function available pre- and post-surgery. Four eligible articles were identified for inclusion in this review, three of which reported a decrease in sexual function pre- to post-surgery across all domains of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire (erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction and overall satisfaction). Conversely, one study reported an increase in sexual function across IIEF domains, except for orgasmic function, which decreased, pre- to post-surgery. Greater penile length was associated with higher post-operative sexual function, whilst increasing age and higher anxiety levels were associated with lower post-operative sexual function levels in one study. Despite the overall drop in sexual function, many patients were still able to maintain satisfactory sex lives following partial penectomy. Given the limited research in this area and small sample sizes across studies, additional well-controlled investigations are warranted to provide further evidence on the effects of partial penectomy for penile cancer on sexual function.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Erectile Dysfunction; Humans; Male; Penile Erection; Penile Neoplasms; Penis; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 36137121
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274914 -
Andrology Feb 2023Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a very common complication in men with diabetes mellitus (DM). Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy (Li-ESWT) offers a promising... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a very common complication in men with diabetes mellitus (DM). Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy (Li-ESWT) offers a promising nonsurgical treatment option for ED. A systematic scoping review investigating the outcomes of Li-ESWT in diabetic men with ED has not yet been performed.
OBJECTIVES
To systematically review animal and clinical studies related to the use of Li-ESWT for treatment of DM-related ED.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched, unrestricted by dates or study design.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We included qualitative studies, quantitative studies, primary research studies, meta-analyses, and research letters written in English. Full text reviewing was completed in all animal and human studies discussing Li-ESWT for the treatment of ED in subjects with DM. Data extracted included the journal citation, publication year, country of origin, study design, and a summary of the pertinent findings.
RESULTS
Our search yielded nine clinical studies and 10 animal studies. The results of the clinical studies suggest that Li-ESWT is a safe and effective treatment in men with well-controlled DM and moderate or better ED. However, the benefit is less durable in diabetic men than nondiabetic men. The results of the animal studies suggest that Li-ESWT can significantly improve erectile function in diabetic rat models with ED.
CONCLUSIONS
The examined studies present encouraging results for the use of Li-ESWT to treat diabetic men with ED. Future studies, particularly robust randomized controlled trials, are necessary to confirm these findings and provide long-term follow-up.
Topics: Male; Humans; Animals; Rats; Erectile Dysfunction; Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy; Penile Erection; Treatment Outcome; Diabetes Mellitus
PubMed: 35642619
DOI: 10.1111/andr.13197 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jan 2023Current literature has indicated that Peyronie's disease (PD) could be initiated by microtrauma and the subsequent inflammation episodes that follow. PD could be sorted... (Review)
Review
Current literature has indicated that Peyronie's disease (PD) could be initiated by microtrauma and the subsequent inflammation episodes that follow. PD could be sorted into acute or chronic status, and it can differ when selecting the clinical therapeutics. PD would cause pain and penile deformity to diseased men and impair their erectile function. Occasionally, surgical revision of the penis might be needed to correct the penile curvature. We find that there are limited effective options of intra-lesion injections for the PD plaques. By searching the databases and screening the literature with the PRISMA 2020 guideline, we observed that several preclinical studies that applied stem cell therapy in treating PD were fruitful in the acute phase. Although in the chronic phase of PD, erectile parameters were not significantly improved, and therefore, future studies might be better elevated in certain aspects, such as the sites selected for harvesting stem cells or changing the centrifugation forces. In this review, we concluded the contemporary understanding of inflammatory microenvironments in PD, the stem cell therapy in PD, and our perspectives on future studies. We concluded that there may be great potential in stem cell therapy for treating both acute and chronic phases PD.
Topics: Male; Humans; Penile Induration; Penis; Penile Erection; Injections; Stem Cells
PubMed: 36614220
DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010777 -
International Journal of Impotence... Aug 2022Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a major global health burden commonly observed in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Although renal transplantation improves the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a major global health burden commonly observed in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Although renal transplantation improves the problem in some patients, it persists in ≈20-50% of recipients. Studies regarding the effects of kidney transplantation on ED present contradictory findings. We performed a systematic review to summarise the effects of kidney transplantation on ED. A systematic literature search was performed across PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus databases in April 2020. We included all prospective studies that investigated the pre and posttransplant international index of erectile function (IIEF-5) scores in recipients with ED. Data search in PubMed and Google Scholar produced 1326 articles; eight were systematically reviewed with a total of 448 subjects. Meta-analysis of IIEF-5 scores showed significant improvements between pre and post transplantation. Our findings confirm that renal transplantation improves erectile function. Furthermore, transplantation also increases testosterone level. However, the evidence is limited because of the small number of studies. Further studies are required to investigate the effects of renal transplantation on erectile function.
Topics: Erectile Dysfunction; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Kidney Transplantation; Male; Penile Erection; Prospective Studies
PubMed: 34103695
DOI: 10.1038/s41443-021-00419-6 -
Obesity Surgery Jun 2023Obesity is associated with a higher prevalence of various comorbidities including erectile dysfunction (ED). Bariatric surgery leads to weight loss and remission of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
Obesity is associated with a higher prevalence of various comorbidities including erectile dysfunction (ED). Bariatric surgery leads to weight loss and remission of weight-related diseases. The exact influence of bariatric treatment on ED is yet to be established; however, the number of papers on the subject is growing.
METHODOLOGY
A systematic review with meta-analysis comparing erectile dysfunction before and after surgery was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines with a literature search performed in June 2022. Inclusion criteria involved (1) ED assessment using the International International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and (2) longitudinal study design. Secondary endpoints involved hormonal changes and specific fields of IIEF.
RESULTS
An initial search yielded 878 records. Fourteen studies were included in the meta-analysis involving 508 patients. The quality of analyzed studies was moderate. Analysis showed significant differences in IIEF before and after surgery (Std. MD = 1.19, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.66, p<0.0001). Testosterone after surgery is higher by 156.32 pg/ml (95% CI 84.78 to 227.86, p<0.0001). There were differences in erectile function (MD:4.86, p < 0.0001), desire (MD: 1.21, p < 0.0001), intercourse satisfaction (MD: 2.16, p < 0.0001), and overall satisfaction (MD: 1.21, p = 0.003). There were no differences in terms of orgasms (MD: 0.65, p = 0.06).
CONCLUSION
There are differences in ED before and after bariatric surgery. Patients achieve 19% more in the IIEF questionnaire showing improvement. Further studies, including multivariate regression models on large cohorts, are required to determine whether the surgery is an independent factor in alleviating ED.
Topics: Male; Humans; Erectile Dysfunction; Longitudinal Studies; Obesity, Morbid; Penile Erection; Bariatric Surgery
PubMed: 37086370
DOI: 10.1007/s11695-023-06572-9 -
Andrology Jan 2022Whether and to what extent an association exists between hyperuricemia and erectile dysfunction (ED) has not yet been fully determined. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Whether and to what extent an association exists between hyperuricemia and erectile dysfunction (ED) has not yet been fully determined.
OBJECTIVE
To define pooled prevalence estimates and correlates of erectile dysfunction in men with hyperuricemic disorders.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A thorough search of Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases was performed. Data were combined using random-effects models and the between-study heterogeneity was assessed by Cochrane's Q and I tests. A funnel plot was used to assess publication bias.
RESULTS
Overall, 8 studies included gave information about 85,406 hyperuricemic men, of whom 5023 complained of erectile dysfunction, resulting in a pooled erectile dysfunction prevalence estimate of 33% (95% Confidence Interval: 13-52%; I² = 99.9%). The funnel plot suggested the presence of a publication bias. At the meta-regression analyses, among the available covariates that could affect estimates, only type 2 diabetes mellitus was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of erectile dysfunction (β = 0.08; 95% Confidence Interval: 0.01, 0.15, p = 0.025). At the sub-group analysis, the pooled erectile dysfunction prevalence decreased to 4% (95% Confidence Interval: 0%-8%) when only the largest studies with the lowest prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus were included and increased up to 50% (95% Confidence Interval: 17%-84%) when the analysis was restricted to studies enrolling smaller series with higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
CONCLUSIONS
A not negligible proportion of men with hyperuricemia can complain of erectile dysfunction. While a pathogenetic contribution of circulating uric acid in endothelial dysfunction cannot be ruled out, the evidence of a stronger association between hyperuricemia and erectile dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus points to hyperuricemia as a marker of systemic dysmetabolic disorders adversely affecting erectile function.
Topics: Adult; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Erectile Dysfunction; Humans; Hyperuricemia; Male; Middle Aged; Penile Erection; Prevalence; Regression Analysis; Risk Factors
PubMed: 34347943
DOI: 10.1111/andr.13088 -
Andrology Nov 2020For a large proportion of patients with spinal cord injury, sexuality and reproduction are important issues. However, sparse data exist regarding available treatment...
BACKGROUND
For a large proportion of patients with spinal cord injury, sexuality and reproduction are important issues. However, sparse data exist regarding available treatment options for this patient population.
OBJECTIVES
We sought to review performance and safety rates of all currently available treatment options for erectile dysfunction in spinal cord injury men.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A systematic literature review without time restrictions was performed using PubMed/EMBASE database for English-, Italian-, German-, and Spanish-language articles. Articles' selection was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Relevant papers on erectile dysfunction in spinal cord injury patients were included in the final analyses.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Overall, 47 studies were eligible for inclusion in this review. Of these, most evidence dealt with phosphodiesterase 5-inhibitors and intracavernous drug injection. Both treatment options are associated with high levels of performance and with patients/partners' satisfaction; side effects are acceptable. Overall, penile prostheses and vacuum erection devices are in general less approved by spinal cord injury patients and are correlated with increased rates of complications in comparison with phosphodiesterase 5-inhibitors and intracavernous drug injection. Sacral neuromodulation, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and intraurethral suppositories have been poorly studied, but preliminary studies did not show convincing results.
CONCLUSION
The best treatment options for erectile dysfunction in spinal cord injury patients emerged to be phosphodiesterase 5-inhibitors and intracavernous drug injection. The choice of erectile dysfunction treatment should be based on several aspects, including residual erectile function, spinal cord injury location, and patients' comorbidities. Future studies assessing the applicability of less well-studied treatments, as well as evaluating innovative options, are needed in this specific population.
Topics: Erectile Dysfunction; Humans; Injections; Male; Patient Satisfaction; Penile Erection; Penile Prosthesis; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors; Prosthesis Implantation; Recovery of Function; Spinal Cord Injuries; Treatment Outcome; Vacuum; Vasodilator Agents
PubMed: 32741129
DOI: 10.1111/andr.12878 -
Sexual Medicine Aug 2021Radial waves are used to treat erectile dysfunction; however, they are different than focal waves, and their mechanism of action or effect on improving this condition is...
INTRODUCTION
Radial waves are used to treat erectile dysfunction; however, they are different than focal waves, and their mechanism of action or effect on improving this condition is not known.
AIM
To evaluate the effect of radial waves at the cellular level and their effectiveness at the clinical level for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
METHODS
Systematic literature review. Electronic database searches and manual searches were performed to identify (i) clinical trials or cohort studies evaluating the effectiveness of radial waves in men with erectile dysfunction and (ii) preclinical trials in animal models or cell cultures in which the production of nitric oxide or endothelial growth factor was evaluated. Study quality was assessed, and data were extracted from each study. A narrative synthesis of the results was performed given the high heterogeneity between the selected studies.
MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES
Nitric oxide production, endothelial growth factor expression, and changes in the Erection Hardness Score (EHS) and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) Questionnaire score.
RESULTS
Four studies in animal models and 1 randomized clinical trial in men with erectile dysfunction and kidney transplantation were identified that met the selection criteria. Preclinical studies in animals suggest that radial waves increase cellular apoptosis in penile tissue, while vascular endothelial growth factor expression increases in brain tissue. In men with erectile dysfunction, no differences were found between radial wave therapy and placebo therapy in the mean IIEF score (15.6 ± 6.1 vs 16.6 ± 5.4 at 1 month after treatment), EHS (2.5 ± 0.85 vs 2.4 ± 0.7 at 1 month after treatment), or penile Doppler parameters.
CONCLUSIONS
No quality evidence was found to support the use of radial waves in humans for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. In animal models and at the cellular level, the results are contradictory. More research is needed. Sandoval-Salinas C, Saffon JP, Corredor HA, et al. Are Radial Pressure Waves Effective in Treating Erectile Dysfunction? A Systematic Review of Preclinical and Clinical Studies. Sex Med 2021;9:100393.
PubMed: 34274822
DOI: 10.1016/j.esxm.2021.100393 -
BMC Urology Oct 2020Controversy remains despite several studies have discussed the role of bariatric surgery in improving male's sexual function. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Controversy remains despite several studies have discussed the role of bariatric surgery in improving male's sexual function. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of bariatric surgery in promoting male's erectile function.
METHODS
PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI and Clinical Trails.gov were searched from database inception to May 2019. The language of publication was limited in English. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) score and Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory (BSFI) score were set as the primary outcome.
RESULTS
Eleven studies with a total of 370 patients were enrolled in this meta-analysis. The results showed significant improvement in the IIEF score (erectile function: MD = 5.33, 95% CI 4.12-6.54; intercourse satisfaction: MD = 2.57, 95% CI 1.19-3.94; orgasmic function: MD = 0.50, 95%CI 0.60-0.94; overall satisfaction: MD = 1.67, 95% CI 0.78-2.56; sexual desire: MD = 1.27, 95% CI 0.61-1.93; total erectile function: MD = 7.21, 95% CI 4.33-10.10) and the BSFI score (erection: MD =2.53, 95% CI 2.39-2.67; ejaculation: MD = 1.40, 95% CI 1.28-1.51; desire: MD =1.40, 95% CI 1.32-1.49; problem assessment: MD = 2.20, 95% CI 2.06-2.34; sexual satisfaction: MD = 0.70, 95% CI 0.60-0.76) in obese individuals after bariatric surgery.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review and meta-analysis indicated that bariatric surgery could be effective in promoting males's sexual function for obese individuals.
Topics: Bariatric Surgery; Erectile Dysfunction; Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans; Male; Obesity, Morbid; Penile Erection; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 33008406
DOI: 10.1186/s12894-020-00707-1