Impact of prostate volume on erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Andrology
• Men's Health

Background:

• Erectile dysfunction (ED) and premature ejaculation (PE) are common male sexual dysfunctions.
• The relationship between prostate health, specifically total prostate volume (TPV), and these conditions requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between total prostate volume (TPV) and erectile function using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF).
• To examine the correlation between TPV and premature ejaculation (PE) assessed by the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT).

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 8336 men undergoing health examinations.
• Data collection included TPV via transrectal ultrasonography, IIEF scores, PEDT results, metabolic work-up, and serum testosterone levels.
• Statistical analyses were performed to assess the relationship between TPV and sexual function outcomes, adjusting for confounding factors and propensity scores.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in the severity of erectile dysfunction (ED) was observed with increasing TPV (p-trend < 0.001).
• Men with TPVs of 30-39 cm³ and ≥40 cm³ showed significantly higher odds of having IIEF scores ≤16 compared to those with TPVs ≤19 cm³.
• No significant correlation was found between TPV and premature ejaculation (PE) as measured by PEDT.

Conclusions:

• Total prostate volume (TPV) is independently associated with erectile dysfunction (ED), indicated by lower IIEF scores.
• TPV does not appear to be correlated with premature ejaculation (PE) based on PEDT assessments.
• Further research is warranted to explore the temporal relationship between TPV and ED.