title: Sexual functioning in patients with localized prostate cancer awaiting treatment.
abstract: This article evaluates current sexual functioning in patients with prostate cancer who are awaiting treatment. One-hundred fifty-eight patients filled out a 15-item questionnaire regarding current sexual functioning. Median age was 67 years. Sixty percent reported to have spontaneous erections at least once a week, and 37% reported a good firmness. Thirty-five percent reported that during sexual activity they had no difficulty in getting erections, and 33% reported that they had no difficulty in maintaining an erection. After diagnosis, all patients reported a decrease in sexual interest, activity, and pleasure. Diagnosis of prostate cancer does have an impact on sexual functioning, therefore sexual counseling prior to treatment is advised.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, EMCR/Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, P.O. Box 5201, 3008 AE Rotterdam, The Netherlands. incrocci@rtdh.azr.nl
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Incrocci
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Madalinska
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Essink-Bot
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Van Putten
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Koper
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Schröder
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors