Sexual function in men after radical cystectomy with or without urethrectomy

Sexual function was evaluated in 21 patients with bladder carcinoma who had undergone radical cystectomy either with (n = 9) or without (n = 12) excision of the urethra. All patients received preoperative radiotherapy, and the cystectomy was done by a nerve-sparing surgical technique. At follow-up all patients reported normal sexual desire and tactile sexual activity. Eight of the 12 patients in whom the urethra was preserved could achieve penile erection and orgasm to tactile stimulation, and five of them had sufficient strength and duration of erection for sexual intercourse. Two of the nine patients in whom the urethra was removed-had weak erections insufficient for intercourse; three could experience orgasm. These results show that when cystectomy is done by a nerve-sparing technique and without urethrectomy there is more chance of preserving sexual function than when simultaneous urethrectomy is done.