The Effect of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms on Erectile Function and the Frequency of Sexual Intercourse / 대한비뇨기과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) usually co-exist with erectile dysfunction. Although the mechanisms for this are still unknown, there seems to be a correlation between the two diseases. We evaluated the effect of lower urinary tract symptoms on the erectile function and the frequency of sexual intercourse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 1,216 patients, who visited our hospital due to LUTS from January 2000 to April 2006, were evaluated for their erectile function with using International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Function (IIEF-EF) domain score, frequency of sexual intercourse per month during the last 3 months, prostate volume, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and quality of life (QoL). The patients were divided into five groups according to age younger than 40, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and older than 70. The patients were again divided into three group according to IPSS mild (0-7), moderate (8-19) and severe (20-35). Multiple regression analysis and two-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: 772 patients were eligible for the analysis. The mean patient age was 53.6+/-12.6 years, the mean IPSS was 13.8 9.2 and the mean IIEF-EF score was 17.0+/-9.4. Among the age and LUTS parameters, only age and IPSS had significant effect on the erectile function (p<0.01). The IIEF-EF domain score showed significant differences among the each age group and also among the age-adjusted IPSS groups (p<0.01, p=0.023). The frequency of sexual intercourse per month during the last 3 months showed a significant difference among the each age group (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Erectile function declines with the age-adjusted LUTS severity as well as with age. The frequency of sexual intercourse per month during the last 3 months declines with age, but not with the age-adjusted LUTS severity.