Patient-reported ejaculatory function and satisfaction in men with lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic...

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Andrology
• Sexual Medicine

Background:

• Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) significantly impact men's health.
• Ejaculatory dysfunction (EjD) is a common concern, yet its relationship with LUTS/BPH requires further investigation.
• Understanding pre-treatment EjD in LUTS/BPH patients is crucial for comprehensive care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate perceived ejaculatory function and satisfaction in men with LUTS/BPH before treatment.
• To identify associations between specific ejaculatory dysfunctions (EjDs) and LUTS severity.
• To explore the relationship between ejaculatory volume/force and overall ejaculatory satisfaction/orgasm.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 1574 treatment-naïve men with LUTS/BPH was evaluated.
• Standard LUTS/BPH assessments were performed, including the International Index of Erectile Function.
• A 5-item questionnaire assessed ejaculatory volume, force, pain, satisfaction, and latency time in sexually active men (n=783).

Main Results:

• Over 50% of sexually active men reported decreased ejaculatory volume (53.4%) and force (55.7%).
• Significant prevalence of ejaculatory pain/discomfort (41.0%), premature ejaculation (PE) (16.3%), and delayed ejaculation (DE) (41.4%) was observed.
• Decreased ejaculatory volume or force strongly correlated with lower ejaculatory satisfaction and higher rates of orgasmic dysfunction.
• Decreased ejaculatory volume or force was independently associated with LUTS severity, while PE, DE, or ejaculatory pain/discomfort were not.

Conclusions:

• A substantial proportion of men with LUTS/BPH experience various forms of EjD prior to treatment.
• Ejaculatory volume/force and satisfaction/orgasm are not always concordant.
• LUTS severity is independently linked to reduced ejaculatory volume or force, highlighting a specific urological connection.