OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate the effect of prostate biopsy on erectile and voiding function at multiple time points following biopsy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: All men who underwent transrectal ultrasound and prostate biopsy completed an International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) before the procedure and at 1 week, 4 weeks, and 3 months after the biopsy. Statistical analyses used were a general descriptive analysis, continuous variables using a T test, and categorical data using chi-square analysis. A paired T test was used to compare each patient's baseline score to their own follow up surveys.
RESULTS: 220 patients were enrolled. Mean age was 64.1 years with a mean PSA of 6.7 ng/dL. At initial presentation 38.6% reported no ED, 22.3% mild ED, 15.5% mild to moderate ED, 10% moderate ED, and 13.6% with severe ED. On paired T test there was a statistically significant reduction in IIEF-5 score at 1 week post biopsy compared to pre-biopsy (18.2 versus 15.5), p< 0.001. This remained significantly decreased at 4 weeks (18.4 versus 17.3, p=0.008) and 3 months (18.4 versus 16.9, p =0.004).
CONCLUSIONS: The effects of prostate biopsy on erectile function have probably been underestimated. It is important to be aware of these transient effects so patients can be appropriately counseled. The exact etiology of this effect is yet to be determined.
Written by:
Murray KS, Bailey J, Zuk K, Lopez-Corona E, Thrasher JB. Are you the author?
University of Kansas Medical Center Department of Urology.
Reference: BJU Int. 2014 Nov 28. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1111/bju.13002
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 25430505