ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION FOLLOWING TRANSURETHRAL RESECTION OF THE PROSTATE

Purpose: We objectively measured the incidence of erectile dysfunction following transurethral resection of the prostate. Materials and Meth ods: A total of 56 men completed a questionnaire detailing perceived s exual dysfunction, and underwent nocturnal penile tumescence testing f or 3 nights before transurethral resection of the prostate and again a t 3 months postoperatively. Results: Complete data were available for 40 men. No significant difference was found in penile tumescence, numb er of erectile events and duration of events before and after surgery. Preoperative and postoperative rigidity was statistically different, with a slight improvement after transurethral resection of the prostat e (p < 0.05). A subjective decrease in quality of erection after trans urethral resection of the prostate was reported in 27.5% of the patien ts. However, on further questioning, 63.6% of these patients equated r etrograde ejaculation with decreased potency. Conclusions: We demonstr ated no decrease in objective parameters of erectile function studies following transurethral resection of the prostate. Previous estimates of impotence after transurethral prostatectomy may have been tainted b y subjective patient reports equating retrograde ejaculation with erec tile dysfunction.