title: [Sexuality of couples 5 years after radical prostatectomy. Sexuality of patients and their partners 1 year postoperatively in sexually active couples].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy (RPx) does affect the sexual life of patients and their partners. In our study, we evaluated sexual life over the long-term of 60 months following nerve-sparing (ns) RPx in couples who successfully performed sexual intercourse (SI) 12 months after surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 36 patients and their female partners who had SI prior to and 12 months after nsRPx were included in this study. Sixty months following nsRPx, couples were asked about frequency of SI, satisfaction of sexual life, usage of medical aid for erections, and sexual function [patients: IIEF-5 (International Index of Erectile Function), partners: FSFI (Female Sexual Function Index)].
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty couples (83.3%) were available for follow-up. A total of 70% of couples performed SI 60 months after nsRPx. In contrast to couples who did not have SI 60 months after nsRPx, couples who successfully had SI were more satisfied, had SI more often, had higher IIEF-5 scores, and higher frequency of bilateral ns surgery. In 80% of those patients, no medical aid except PDE-5 inhibitors were used. The partners of those patients were more satisfied with their sexual life, compared to the patients themselves. Couples, in whom the patient had IIEF-5 scores ≥19 were more satisfied, had SI more often, and the partners had higher FSFI scores, compared to couples with patients' IIEF-5 scores <19.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Couples who had successfully performed SI within 12 months following nsRPx continue to have satisfying SI in the long-term. Those couples are more satisfied with their sexual life and have SI more often prior to and 12 months after nsRPx.
authors: Klinik und Poliklinik für Urologie, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstraße 22, 81667, München, Deutschland.
authors: T B
authors: TB
authors: Jordan
authors: Klinik und Poliklinik für Urologie, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstraße 22, 81667, München, Deutschland.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Ernst
authors: Klinik und Poliklinik für Urologie, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstraße 22, 81667, München, Deutschland.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Hatzichristodoulou
authors: Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, München, Deutschland.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Dinkel
authors: Klinik und Poliklinik für Urologie, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstraße 22, 81667, München, Deutschland.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Klorek
authors: Klinik und Poliklinik für Urologie, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstraße 22, 81667, München, Deutschland.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Beyrle
authors: Klinik und Poliklinik für Urologie, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstraße 22, 81667, München, Deutschland.
authors: J E
authors: JE
authors: Gschwend
authors: Klinik und Poliklinik für Urologie, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstraße 22, 81667, München, Deutschland. Kathleen.herkommer@lrz.tum.de.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Herkommer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009948:Orgasm; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Erectile dysfunction; Prostate cancer; Quality of life; Satisfaction; Sexual function