Impact on sexual function after reconstructive surgery for anterior urethral stricture disease

To evaluate the effect of urethral reconstructive surgery on sexual drive, erectile function and ejaculation.

The study group consisted of 150 men with a median (range) age of 40 (18-73) years who underwent 168 urethral reconstructive procedures for anterior urethral stricture disease between October 2003 and May 2009. We evaluated sexual functioning using the O'Leary Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory before and after surgery.

The median follow-up was 33 months (range 4-72). There were no significant changes in sexual drive and erectile function scores postoperatively for men in the 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and 60-69 years age groups. Overall, there was a significant improvement in ejaculatory function scores after surgery. This improvement was most robust in men in the 20-29, 30-39 and 40-49 years age group.

Overall, anterior urethral reconstruction appears no more likely to cause postoperative sexual dysfunction. Different types of urethroplasties, surgical complexity with long stricture excision and the use of buccal graft, preputial flap/tube did not influence outcome.