International Index Of Erectile Function Questionnaire Research Articles

Evaluation of male sexual function after pelvic trauma by the international index of erectile function

Objectives. To assess the multifaceted male sexual function after pelvic ring fracture. Methods. A cross-sectional study of male sexual function after pelvic ring fractures was conducted, using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). The department of traumatology database was scanned (June 1996 to April 1999) for 30 to 70-year-old male patients with pelvic fracture. Seventy-six consecutive, literate patients were then contacted by mail. IIEF domain scores were calculated for all responders. Cappelleri’s method for identification and grading of erectile dysfunction was applied for patients sexually active within the past 4 weeks. Student’s t test was used to compare the domain scorings of patients with those of the control population used for the IIEF psychometric validation. Relationships between IIEF results and patient characteristics were sought by Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient for quantitative variables and Student’s t test for classes. Results. Forty-six patients answered (60.1% response rate). Thirty-seven patients had experienced sexual intercourse in the past 4 weeks during which 11 patients (29.7%) had exhibited various degrees of impaired erection. As a whole, compared with the published controls a significant decrease in overall satisfaction ( P <0.05) was demonstrated. Pubic diastasis was further related to impaired erectile function and overall satisfaction; we suggest that cavernosal nerves might be damaged at the time of diastasis. Conclusions. This study evidenced the impairment of sexual overall satisfaction after pelvic trauma and the specific decrease in erectile function and erection firmness and confidence associated with pubic diastasis. The IIEF questionnaire might be considered at the time of rehabilitation to identify those patients that could benefit from supportive treatments.

Role of viagra after radical prostatectomy

Objectives: To determine whether the response to sildenafil citrate (Viagra) in patients with erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy was influenced by the presence or absence of neurovascular bundles, the interval from surgery to the initiation of drug therapy, and the dose of the drug. Methods: Baseline and follow-up data from 91 patients presenting with erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy were obtained. The patients were stratified according to the type of nerve-sparing (NS) procedure: bilateral NS, unilateral NS, and non-NS. They were interviewed using the Cleveland Clinic Post Prostatectomy (CCPP) questionnaire and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire. Results: The presence or absence of the neurovascular bundles influenced the ability to achieve vaginal intercourse. In the patients who had undergone bilateral NS, 71.7% (38 of 53) responded; in those with unilateral NS, 50% (6 of 12) responded; and in those with non-NS, 15.4% (4 of 26) responded. The IIEF questionnaire confirmed the quality of the positive responses, with significant improvements in response to question 3 (frequency of penetration), question 4 (frequency of maintenance of erection), and question 7 (satisfaction with intercourse). The magnitude of improvement in responses was higher in the bilateral NS group than in the unilateral NS and non-NS groups ( P <0.05). When the data of the 48 positive responders were analyzed, no difference in the response rate was found when the interval from surgery to drug therapy was stratified by the following three intervals: 0 to 6 months (44%), 6 to 12 months (55%), and greater than 12 months (53%). Of the positive responders, 14 (29.1%) required the 50-mg dose, and 34 (70.9%) required the 100-mg dose. The most common side effects were transient headaches (28.6%), flushing (21.9%), dizziness (8.8%), dyspepsia (6.5%), and nasal congestion (5.4%), with an increase in the incidence of headaches seen at the higher dose ( P = 0.04). Conclusions: Successful treatment of erectile dysfunction with sildenafil citrate after radical prostatectomy depends on the presence of the neurovascular bundles. Our data suggest that the response to sildenafil is not related to the interval between the surgery and initiation of drug therapy but is related to the dose.

Treatment of erectile dysfunction with sildenafil citrate (Viagra) after radiation therapy for prostate cancer

Objectives. To determine the response to sildenafil citrate (Viagra) in patients with erectile dysfunction after radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer. Methods. Baseline and follow-up data from 21 patients presenting with erectile dysfunction after radiation treatment for clinical T1-2 prostate cancer were obtained. Two patients had undergone iodine-125 seed implantation and the remaining 19 conformal external beam irradiation. All 21 patients were considered to have erectile dysfunction as assessed by the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and were prescribed sildenafil at a dosage of 50 mg, with a titration to 100 mg if needed. The mean time between the completion of radiation therapy and initiation of sildenafil was 24.6 ± 5.8 months. The quality of the erectile function was assessed after a minimum of four doses by using the Cleveland Clinic Erectile Function (CCEF) questionnaire and the IIEF questionnaire. A positive response to sildenafil on the CCEF questionnaire was defined as an erection sufficient for vaginal penetration. The responses on the IIEF questionnaire were rated on a scale of 1 (almost never) to 5 (almost always), with 0 being no sexual activity. Results. On the CCEF questionnaire, 71% (15 of 21) of patients had a positive response, with a mean duration of 12.7 ± 2.5 minutes of intercourse, and a corresponding spousal satisfaction rate of 71%. Twelve (80%) of the 15 responders required titration to the 100-mg dosage for maximal effect. The most common side effects seen were transient flushing (19%), abnormal color vision (14%), and headaches (10%). No patient discontinued the drug because of side effects. On the IIEF questionnaire, the responses to questions 3 (frequency of penetration), 4 (maintenance of erection), 7 (satisfactory intercourse), and 15 (erection confidence) increased from mean baseline scores of 1.3, 1.1, 1.2, and 1.8 to final mean scores of 4.0, 3.9, 3.2, and 3.4, respectively ( P <0.001). On the global efficacy question (ability to achieve firm erections), 71% of the patients responded positively. Conclusions. Sildenafil citrate can improve the ability to achieve and maintain an erection in most patients with erectile dysfunction after radiation therapy for prostate cancer.

The Role of Pelvic Floor Muscles Exercises with Biofeedback as Adjuvant Treatment in Men with Erectile Dysfunction

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of pelvic floor muscle exercise programs for men with erectile dysfunction problems.Methods: A randomized controlled group designed study. Sixteen men with erectile dysfunction who had undergone pharmacological treatment from the Andrology Clinic and were referred to thePhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department Dr. Soetomo Hospital were divided into 2 groups. The first group was treated with pelvic floor muscle exercises for 12 weeks, while the second groupacted as control. The parameters of this study were evaluated in weeks 4, 8 and 12. This consisted of an evaluation of pelvic floor muscle strength, which was performed by digital anal assessment, and pressurebiofeedback Myomed 932. The evaluation of erectile function was based on the IIEF-5 (International Index of Erectile Function – 5) questionnaire and the EHS (Erectile Hardness Score).Results: An increase in the maximum contraction of pelvic floor muscles was seen in the intervention group after 8 weeks of treatment (p=0.011). Six subjects in the intervention group (75%) gained anormal anal strength based on digital anal assessment at the end of study. The IIEF-5 score of the intervention group improved after 8 weeks of treatment (p=0.012). Threesubjects (37.5%) in the intervention group got a maximum hardness score and 4 subjects (50%) gained an improvement of the hardness score.Conclusion: Comparing of the results of the protocol reported here shows that pelvic floor muscle exercises improve erectile function in men with erectile dysfunction problems.Keywords: pelvic floor muscle exercises, biofeedback, erectile dysfunction