Erectile Dysfunction after Transuretheral Resection of the Prostate in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Abstract

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is commonly associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in aging men, which can significantly impact their quality of life. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is a standard treatment for BPH, yet its effects on erectile function remain controversial. Objective: To assess the impact of TURP on erectile function in patients with BPH and to evaluate the potential relationship between the relief of obstructive urinary symptoms and changes in erectile function postoperatively. Methods: This single-center, non-randomized study enrolled 177 male patients aged 50 to 80 years with a clinical diagnosis of BPH and an International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) greater than 8. Participants underwent monopolar TURP and were evaluated using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire one month post-surgery. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 with Chi-square tests applied to examine the influence of age and IPSS scores on erectile function, considering a p-value ≤0.05 as significant. Results: The mean age of participants was 57.53 ± 6.96 years, and the mean resected prostate tissue weight was 122.82 ± 12.05 grams. Post-TURP, 44.6% of patients were found to have some degree of erectile dysfunction. However, no significant changes in erectile function were observed one month following TURP (p=0.602 for age, p=0.878 for IPSS score). Conclusion: TURP did not significantly affect erectile function one month postoperatively in BPH patients with severe urinary symptoms. While some improvement in erectile function was noted, the results suggest that the benefits of TURP on erectile function may not be immediate. Further longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes are required to provide more definitive conclusions.