title: Life experiences of Brazilian men with urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction following radical prostatectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to explore the psychosocial meaning and repercussions on lifestyle associated with erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence (UI) in men following radical prostatectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten men from Southeastern Brazil who underwent radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer were interviewed. All participants underwent treatment at a urology clinic during the period of September 2007 to February 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  A clinical-qualitative study was conducted, using semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Each man was interviewed once. The average length of the interviews was 37 minutes (range: 16 to 81 minutes). Data from the interviews were subjected to content thematic analysis and development of categories based on psychodynamic references.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three themes were identified: (1) sexuality called into question; (2) a body without governance; and (3) experiencing loss. These men reported difficulties in dealing both with the physical and emotional impotence resulting from the treatment. Urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction affected their body by accentuating conflicts related to masculinity, triggering subjective feelings of powerlessness, and psychological distress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Study respondents assigned multiple psychological meanings to issues related to feelings of powerlessness in general, leading to a narcissistic wound. The men experienced UI as a bodily deficiency, and erectile dysfunction was experienced as a feeling of being devitalized. These results suggest that UI from prostate cancer treatment affects sexuality and self-esteem.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, (UNICAMP) Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. mhbaenaml@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Maria Helena Baena
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: de Moraes Lopes
authors.forename: Rosângela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Higa
authors.forename: Sílvia Nogueira
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Cordeiro
authors.forename: Nuri Aparecida
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Rodrigues Estapê
authors.forename: Carlos Arturo
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Levi D'ancona
authors.forename: Egberto Ribeiro
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Turato
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D012649:Self Concept; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*