Current sexual functioning in 106 patients with Peyronie's disease treatedwith radiotherapy 9 years earlier

Objectives. To analyze retrospectively the sexual functioning and treatment outcome in patients after radiotherapy (RT) for Peyronie's disease. Methods. During 1982 to 1997, 179 patients with Peyronie's disease were tre ated at our radiation oncology department. One hundred thirty patients whos e address could be traced were sent a questionnaire about their symptoms be fore RT, treatment outcome, and current sexual functioning (the past 4 week s). One hundred six patients, mean age 59 years, responded. Results. Before RT, 44% reported painful erections, 97% penile curvature, a nd 18% erectile dysfunction. Sixty-nine percent reported that after RT, pen ile pain was diminished and 29% that penile curvature was decreased; 13% re ported improved erections, With respect to their current sex life, 51% repo rted sometimes or always having problems getting an erection and 61% in mai ntaining an erection; 36% never experienced spontaneous erections. Fifty-fo ur percent reported not having erections rigid enough for sexual activity. Since RT (mean 9 years), there had been a moderate or severe decrease in se xual interest (17%), sexual activity (41%), and sexual pleasure (32%). Over all, 49% of patients were dissatisfied with their current sexual functionin g. Conclusions. Low-dose external RT resulted in relief of pain in two thirds of patients with Peyronie's disease. An improvement in penile curvature was reported in one third of patients. One half of men reported problems in ge tting an erection. The rigidity of erections was satisfactory in only 54%. There was a moderate to severe decrease in sexual interest, activity, and p leasure after RT; however, this was associated with age, although comorbidi ty or medications cannot be excluded. UROLOGY 56: 1030-1034, 2000, (C) 2000 , Elsevier Science Inc.