Sexual Medicine

INTRODUCTION: In cardiac patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), sexual function is sparsely described. AIM: To determine the prevalence and distribution of sexual dysfunction, and to describe whether primary or secondary prophylactic ICD indication and antitachycardia pacing (ATP) or shock is associated with sexual function. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of men with an implanted ICD was conducted at 2 university hospitals in Denmark...

INTRODUCTION: The idea that sexual activity can affect athletic performance has been a matter of conjecture for the past several decades. AIM: To provide preliminary data on whether sexual activity the evening before several physical exercise performance tests affects performance the next day. METHODS: Eight participants (mean age, 28 ± 5 years) underwent several physical exercise performance tests on 3 different mornings, under 3 conditions: (i) no sexual intercourse the night before the tests (control), (ii) sexual intercourse the night before the tests, and (iii) yoga the night before the tests (randomized, single-blinded)...

INTRODUCTION: Although diabetes mellitus (DM) is often discussed as a risk factor for inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) infection, the link between DM diagnosis and IPP infection remains controversial. High-quality population-based data linking DM to an increased risk of IPP infection have not been published. AIM: To evaluate the association of DM with IPP infection in a large public New York state database. METHODS: The New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) database was queried for men who underwent initial IPP insertion from 1995-2014...

BACKGROUND: Postoperative erectile dysfunction (ED) remains a prevalent consequence of radical prostatectomy (RP) that significantly impacts patient quality of life. Water-jet technology is widely used for dissection in neurosurgical procedures but novel to urologic surgery. AIM: To establish the impact of hydro-jet dissection (HJD) of the cavernous nerves (CN) on postoperative erectile function in an animal model of RP-induced ED. METHODS: 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to 4 groups: Sham surgery (n = 8), bilateral HJD of CN (n = 8), blunt CN injury (n = 8), or stretch CN injury (n = 8)...

INTRODUCTION: Sexual dysfunction is a common problem in women and the nature of its association with alcohol use remains unclear. AIM: To explore the association between alcohol use and female sexual dysfunction (FSD). METHODS: Associations between self-reported drinking and sexual function were evaluated in 2,253 women presenting for consultation to a women's health specialty clinic. A short version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C) was used to evaluate alcohol use...

INTRODUCTION: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative neurological disease that usually occurs between the ages of 20 and 50 years. Sexuality issues are important factors that affect the quality of life of patients. AIM: To determine and evaluate the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in Greek women with MS and correlate it with organic and psychological factors. METHODS: 248 consecutive women with MS, aged over 18 who admitted to our outpatient clinics from February 2016 to March 2017 were included in the study...

INTRODUCTION: It has been theorized that there are 2 subgroups within the male-to-female (MtF) transgender population: individuals who are predominantly androphilic and those who are predominantly gynephylic or interested in both male and female partners. AIM: To explore the role of a dichotomous distribution of age at dysphoria onset in individuals diagnosed with MtF gender dysphoria. METHODS: 40 patients who presented to a surgical clinic in Germany for gender-affirming surgery (GAS) were included in this study...

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether tadalafil improves endothelial dysfunction(EnD) in a placebo-controlled randomized-control trial. METHODS: Erectile dysfunction and EnD were assessed by the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery respectively, at baseline and 4 weeks by blinded observer. Patients with FMD of < 15% were randomized in 1:1 ratio to receive either placebo or tadalafil. Both placebo and tadalafil in similar-appearing capsules but coded separately, were dispensed by a blinded co-investigator...

BACKGROUND: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common public health issue with a significant impact on quality of life. The associations between ED and several risk factors have been reported previously. The continuously increasing incidence of these factors is contributing to the increasing prevalence of ED. AIM: To assess ED prevalence and severity in a representative sample of 45-year-old German men and to analyze the association with risk factors (lifestyle risk factors/comorbidities)...

BACKGROUND: Relationships among sexual activity, problems and concerns, and well-being among older adults have not been fully explored. AIM: To investigate associations among sexual activity, problems and concerns, and experienced well-being in a representative sample of older adults. METHODS: In this cross-sectional analysis from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, sexual behavior, problems, and concerns were assessed via a self-completed questionnaire...

INTRODUCTION: Surgery remains the gold standard for treatment in stable patients with penile deformity associated to Peyronie's disease (PD). AIM: To evaluate the long-term results of plaque incision and buccal mucosa grafting (BMG), with or without additional tunica albuginea plication (TAP), in the correction of severe penile curvatures secondary to PD. METHODS: 72 patients with severe curvature caused by PD, normal erections, and stable disease entered this prospective study...

INTRODUCTION: Current discussions in the field of sex research concern the age at which sexual interest in children occurred or awareness emerged. AIM: To investigate the age of onset (AOO) and its correlates in men with sexual interest in children. METHODS: Using 2 samples (study 1, patients from an outpatient treatment center, n = 26; study 2, an online survey using 3 recruitment paths, n = 94), we assessed self-reported AOO of sexual interest in children, its flexibility, its exclusiveness, and individuals' motivation to change it...

INTRODUCTION: Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5-Is) have an excellent efficacy and tolerability profile and remain the first-line choice for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). However, ED is still an underdiagnosed and undertreated condition, and many men prematurely discontinue therapy with conventional dosage formulations despite successful intercourse. AIM: To review the unmet needs and expectations of patients with ED and describe the latest pharmaceutical innovations in the field of PDE5-I formulations designed to address these needs, with particular reference to a new orodispersible film (ODF) formulation of the PDE5-I, sildenafil...

INTRODUCTION: Priapism is defined as a persistent penile erection lasting longer than 4 hours and unrelated to sexual activity. It is one of the most common emergencies treated by urologists. Advances in understanding the pathophysiology of various types of priapism have led to targeted management strategies according to type of priapism. AIM: The aims of this article is report the case of a 24-year-old man who was presented in the emergency department with a combination of high flow priapism with low flow priapism...

INTRODUCTION: Now that HIV infection has become a chronic disease, optimizing health status is an important goal of care for HIV-infected patients. Testosterone insufficiency (TI) can compromise health status, but little is known about the prevalence of TI and possible related factors in HIV-infected women. AIM: To investigate the prevalence of TI among HIV-infected women attending our HIV outpatient clinic, and to study the relationship between TI and sexual function, fatigue, health status, and depression...

INTRODUCTION: Management of erectile dysfunction (ED) is beset with assumptions around spontaneity of sexual intercourse, requiring candor between the physician and patient if appropriate treatment is to be implemented. AIM: To evaluate the degree to which men who take ED medications plan for and have sex. METHODS: Men from China, Japan, and Taiwan aged 40-70 years who had taken ED medications within the past 3 months were invited to participate anonymously in an online, self-administered survey that enquired about frequency and advance planning of sex, time between taking ED medication and intercourse, and treatment satisfaction...

INTRODUCTION: Severe obesity is most effectively treated with bariatric surgery. The resulting weight loss is expected to improve a variety of obesity-related conditions, including sexual dysfunction. AIM: To analyze changes in the sexual function of women with obesity following bariatric surgery. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted between April 2015 and April 2016 involving 62 women with obesity who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass...

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have shown that the injection of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) into the tunica albuginea (TA) during the active phase of Peyronie's disease (PD) prevents the development of fibrosis. AIM: To investigate, using an animal model, whether local injection of human ADSCs (hADSCs) can alter the degree of fibrosis in the chronic phase of PD. METHODS: 27 male, 12-week-old rats were divided into 3 equal groups: sham, PD without treatment, and PD treated with hADSCs 1 month after disease induction...

INTRODUCTION: Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a common disease with serious potential hazards, but it has not received much attention. The pathogenesis of FSD is urgently needed for the diagnosis and treatment of FSD. AIM: To investigate the role of microribonucleic acid (mRNA, miR)-137 in FSD. METHODS: Vaginal epithelium tissues from 15 women with lubrication disorder and 15 women with normal function were collected for this study. The expression level of miR-137 in lubrication disorder and normal function women were measured by microarray analysis and Real-time Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR, qPCR)...

INTRODUCTION: Constraints on surgical resident training (work-hour mandates, shorter training programs, etc.) and availability of expert surgical educators may limit the acquisition of prosthetic surgical skills. As a result, training courses are being conducted to augment the prosthetic surgery learning experience. AIM: To evaluate the impact of a hands-on cadaver-based teaching program on resident procedural knowledge and procedural confidence with placement of a penile prosthesis...