title: Sexual function after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP): results of an independent prospective multicentre assessment of outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The influence of surgical treatment of bladder outlet obstruction on sexual function is uncertain and available evidence is conflicting. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) causes retrograde ejaculation, but its effect on erectile function is controversial. We have prospectively investigated the influence of TURP on erectile and ejaculatory function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2000 and January 2005, 11 hospitals in Switzerland informed the Verein Outcome (VO), an independent institution specialising in outcome measurements in the Swiss health care system, about patients scheduled for TURP. VO obtained the Danish Prostate Symptom Score (DAN-PSS) including the sexual function domain (DAN-PSSsex) before and 4 mo after surgery and compared the respective scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 1014 patients were evaluated. Mean patient age was 69 yr. DAN-PSSsex questionnaires were returned by 988 patients before and 642 patients after TURP; 722 (73.1%) and 474 (73.8%) of the patients, respectively, stated that they were still sexually active. The mean erectile function score improved insignificantly from 1.66 to 1.47 (p=0.11), the mean ejaculatory function score worsened from 1.27 to 2.34 (p<0.00) and the mean discomfort on ejaculation score improved from 0.37 to 0.29 (p=0.10) before and after TURP, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results confirm that TURP has no negative influence on the quality of erections measured by self-assessment questionnaires. The loss of ejaculatory function is significant and is associated with considerable bother. However, three of four patients undergoing TURP are still sexually active and the surgery has no influence on this ratio.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muntener
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aellig
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuettel
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gehrlach
authors.forename: Tullio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sulser
authors.forename: Raeto T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Strebel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D020728:Transurethral Resection of Prostate; D016896:Treatment Outcome