Sexual dysfunction in the patient with prostatitis

Prostatitis [chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS)] is a common condition in men that accounts for a significant number of visits to a medical doctor or urologist. It is one of the most widely diagnosed conditions in men attending urologic clinics. Erectile dysfunction, defined as the consistent inability to obtain and/or maintain a penile erection sufficient for adequate sexual relations, is also a common problem. This review explores the links between sexual dysfunction and prostatitis.

Most of the data linking lower urinary tract symptoms and erectile dysfunction suggest that lower urinary tract symptoms impair the overall quality of life and that a low quality of life contributes to or causes erectile dysfunction. Prostatitis-like symptoms such as perineal, penile, and suprapubic discomfort or pain during or after ejaculation and voiding complaints such as irritative and obstructive voiding symptoms: urinary frequency, urgency, and dysuria may affect the global emotional well-being of a man. Erectile dysfunction is also strongly associated with a negative impact on the quality of life.

The available literature demonstrating the influence of CP/CPPS on the incidence of erectile dysfunction is scant. From the literature, it is known that lower urinary tract symptoms and benign prostatic hyperplasia are definitely related to erectile dysfunction. Any kind of pain is likely to be the most significant symptom in men with CP/CPPS as it relates to sexual dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction like ejaculation discomfort is described as a symptom of CP/CPPS. Indeed, most of the data linking the two suggest that CP/CPPS impairs the overall quality of life and it is this that contributes to or causes erectile dysfunction.