Prospective analysis of ejaculatory function after anterior urethral reconstruction.

PURPOSE: Urethral reconstruction may improve ejaculatory function by relieving urethral obstruction but could worsen it by disrupting the bulbocavernosus muscle. We prospectively evaluated the effects of urethral reconstruction on ejaculatory function.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: All men who underwent anterior urethroplasty from September 2006 to June 2009 were asked to complete the ejaculatory function component of the Male Sexual Health Questionnaire (7 questions with a total of 35 points) preoperatively and postoperatively after resuming sexual activity. Postoperatively decreased and improved ejaculation was defined as an increase and a decrease of 5 or more points, respectively.

RESULTS: A total of 43 men were included in the study. The overall ejaculatory score did not change postoperatively (25.54 vs 26.94 points, p = 0.17) at a mean +/- SD followup of 8.1 +/- 6.0 months but men with poor preoperative function had significant improvement (15.27 vs 21.22 points, p = 0.01). Overall ejaculatory vigor (3.19 vs 3.56 points, p = 0.25) and volume (3.49 vs 3.88, p = 0.19) did not change significantly. Postoperative function was stable in 30 men (70%), improved in 8 (19%), including 7 with bulbar and 1 with penile urethroplasty, and worse in 5 (11%), including 4 with bulbar and 1 with penile urethroplasty.

CONCLUSIONS: Urethral reconstruction appears to have a minimal effect on ejaculatory function when evaluated by the Male Sexual Health Questionnaire. More objective testing may be necessary to fully assess the effect of urethroplasty on ejaculatory function.