Combined use of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for temporary ejaculation failure in couple undergoing assisted reproductive technologies.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the drug treatment for temporary ejaculation failure in couple undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART).


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
Andrology unit, center for reproductive medicine.


METHODS
Five patients suffering from temporary ejaculation failure during ART.


METHODS
Assisted reproductive technology. Semen samples were collected by masturbation. The combined use of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE5-I; vardenafil, 10 mg) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI; sertraline, 50 mg) to treat patients who failed to collect semen on the day of egg retrieval.


RESULTS
Five patients with unexpected ejaculation failure during ART treatments were identified; two patients could not produce spermatozoa 3 h after taking PDE5-I (sildenafil, 50 mg), However, the use of PDE5-I (vardenafil, 10 mg) plus SSRI (sertraline, 50 mg) enabled them to provide spermatozoa successfully. It suggested that the combined protocol could be more efficient for temporary ejaculation failure than sildenafil alone. On the day of the egg retrieval, we directly prescribed vardenafil and sertraline for the other three patients and got sperm samples without difficulty 2 h later.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that the combined protocol of vardenafil plus sertraline could resolve the unpredictable ejaculation failure during ART. We presume that it might be helpful for attenuating the patients' stress and anxiety.
Lu
Shaoming
S
Andrology Unit, Center For Reproductive Medicine, Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
Zhao
Yueran
Y
Hu
Jingmei
J
Li
Xiao
X
Zhang
Haobo
H
You
Li
L
Chen
Zi-jiang
ZJ
D000328:Adult; D004542:Ejaculation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020280:Sertraline / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013450:Sulfones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014227:Triazines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000069058:Vardenafil Dihydrochloride
D007093:Imidazoles; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline; D013450:Sulfones; D014227:Triazines; D000069058:Vardenafil Dihydrochloride