title: Testicular prosthesis: Patient satisfaction and sexual dysfunctions in testis cancer survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We studied patient satisfaction about sexual activity after prosthesis implantation using validated questionnaires with the aim to discover if testicular prosthesis could be responsible of sexual dysfunctions (erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation).
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated a total of 67 men who underwent radical orchiectomy for testicular cancer and a silicon testicular prosthesis implantation from January 2008 to June 2014 at our Hospital. These patients completed 5 validated questionnaires the day before orchiectomy and 6 months after surgery: the International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF5), the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT), the Body Exposure during Sexual Activities Questionnaire (BESAQ), the Body-Esteem Scale and the Rosenberg Self- Esteem Scale. We also evaluated 6 months after surgery any defects of the prosthesis complained by the patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The questionnaires completed by patients didn't show statistically significant changes for erectile dysfunction (p &gt; 0.05) and premature ejaculation (p &gt; 0.05). On the contrary the psychological questionnaires showed statistically significant change for the BESAQ (p &lt; 0.001) and the Body Esteem Scale (p &lt; 0.001), but not for the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (p &gt; 0,05). A total of 15 patients (22.37%) were dissatisfied about the prosthesis: the most frequent complaint (8 patients; 11.94%) was that the prosthesis was firmer than the normal testis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Testicular prosthesis implantation is a safe surgical procedure that should be always proposed before orchiectomy for cancer of the testis. The defects complained by patients with testicular prosthesis are few, they don't influence sexual activity and they aren't able to cause erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation.
authors.affiliation: Polytechnic University of Marche, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Odontostomatologic and Specialized Clinical Sciences, Urology Clinic, Department of General and Specialized Surgery, University Hospital, Ancona. frenzis83@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Catanzariti
authors.forename: Benedetta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Polito
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000379:methods; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D061686:Premature Ejaculation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012828:Silicones; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012828:Silicones