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The influence of ejaculation and abstinence on urinary flow rates
Luca Cindolo1, Cosimo De Nunzio, Petros Sountoulides
1Urology Department, "S. Pio da Pietrelcina" Hospital, Vasto, Italy. lucacindolo@virgilio.it
Neurourology and Urodynamics
|July 23, 2011
Summary
Ejaculation significantly increases maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) in healthy young men. This finding suggests sexual activity could influence uroflowmetry results, especially in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Andrology
- Physiology
Background:
- Uroflowmetry is a key diagnostic tool for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).
- The influence of sexual activity, specifically ejaculation, on micturition parameters is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between urinary flow rate and ejaculation in healthy young men.
- To determine if ejaculation impacts uroflowmetry measurements.
Main Methods:
- 18 healthy, sexually active young men underwent daily uroflowmetry for 22 days.
- Subjects were instructed to ejaculate on specific days (0, 6, 22), with measurements taken 2-6 hours post-ejaculation.
- Uroflowmetry parameters and post-void residual urine (PVR) were compared before and after ejaculation and during abstinence.
Main Results:
- Ejaculation led to a statistically significant increase in maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax).
- Sexual abstinence resulted in a progressive decline in Qmax.
- Post-void residual urine (PVR) showed no significant changes throughout the study.
Conclusions:
- Ejaculation appears to positively influence micturition in healthy young men.
- Sexual status and activity may be a significant confounding factor in interpreting uroflowmetry traces.
- Further studies in larger patient cohorts with LUTS are warranted to confirm these findings.
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