Abstract

Sexual difficulties are a recognized consequence of prostate cancer (PCa) treatments. An estimated one in three men who have sex with men (MSM) receive PCa a diagnosis during their lifetime. MSM may experience all types of sexual dysfunction as reported in men who have sex with women (MSW), along with a number of more specific bothersome problems. This systematic literature review aims to evaluate sexual outcomes in MSM who have undergone radical prostatectomy (RP). A systematic review was carried out following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The searches were made using relevant keywords in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, thus including the whole literature from January 2000 to November 2023. Studies which did not allow to retrieve data on sexual outcomes on MSM treated with RP for PCa were excluded. Data on sexual outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were retrieved, mostly including changes in libido, erectile function, ejaculatory disorders, orgasm, climacturia, changes in role-in-sex identity, changes in sexual partnerships, and the presence of painful receptive anal intercourses (AI). CRD42024502592. Six articles met the inclusion criteria. In total, data of 260 patients were analyzed. Three main themes emerged: (a) MSM may experience specific sexual dysfunctions due to the different dynamics of their intimacy; (b) the lack of tool validated on gay and bisexual population to assess sexual outcomes (c) the need for a tailored approach that also takes into account sexual orientation throughout the oncological journey. MSM undergoing RP may experience similar sexual problems as MSW. Painful AI should be considered a potential post-operative adverse outcome in MSM. Future studies should prioritize validating a questionnaire that explores AI. Healthcare providers should adopt a tailored approach that takes into account sexual orientation throughout the cancer journey.

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