Sexual Quality of Life and Satisfaction With Penile Prostheses

Penile prosthesis (PP) implantation is associated with high patient satisfaction and improved sexual quality of life (SQoL). The SQoL benefits of PP implantation are generalizable across subpopulations of PP implant patients, but the literature is heterogeneous in design and largely without instruments to specifically measure SQoL changes due to PP, requiring extrapolation from less granular measures.

To provide a comprehensive review of available literature regarding SQoL with a penile prosthesis. In addition, the strengths and limitations of each study will be described with respect to design, number of patients included, data acquisition, and clinical significance.

A PubMed search was performed for articles from 1989 to 2018 related to penile prostheses and SQoL. Emphasis was placed on patient/partner satisfaction scores, quality of life assessments, and patient-reported outcome measures.

The SQoL benefits due to penile prostheses were reviewed. The measurement tools for patient satisfaction and sexual quality of life across multiple subpopulations within patients receiving penile prosthesis implantation were reviewed and the outcomes analyzed.

Patient satisfaction rates with penile prostheses are higher than 85%, and SQoL is improved in both patients and their partners. There now is a validated questionnaire that is the first to specifically measure changes in SQoL due to a penile prosthesis.

Overall, patient satisfaction with a penile prosthesis is high and SQoL is improved. These results are largely generalizable across multiple subpopulations of patients. Although literature is heterogeneous in study design and assessment methods, there now is a validated and specific penile prosthesis SQoL questionnaire that can provide for more granular analysis moving forward. Barton GJ, Carlos EC, Lentz AC. Sexual Quality of Life and Satisfaction With Penile Prostheses. J Sex Med Rev 2019;7:178-188.