In the Journals

Use of medications or devices for erectile dysfunction among long-term prostate cancer treatment survivors: potential influence of sexual motivation and/or indifference.

Authors: Miller DC, Wei JT, Dunn RL, Montie JE, Pimentel H, Sandler, HM, McLaughlin PW, Sanda MG.

Journal: Urology 2006; 68:166-71.

Editorial Comment: While there has been increasing focus given to the consequence of erectile dysfunctions following treatment for clinically localized prostate cancer, questions arise as to whether men pursue therapy to correct the problem and whether sexual motivation influences this pursuit.  A recent survey of men who had undergone surgery or radiation for prostate cancer determined the use of medications and devices to improve erections and sexual health-related quality of life.  Their responses were compared to that of control men who had not undergone such treatment.  The study showed that prostrate cancer survivors did use treatment more commonly than did the control men, as might be expected.  One half of the prostate cancer survivors with erectile dysfunction reported indifference regarding this impaired functional status.  Among those who were bothered by poor erections, more than half of those treated by radiation and a quarter of those treated by surgery had never tried commonly available medications or devices to improve their erections.  A conclusion from this survey is that treatments for erectile dysfunction are not commonly pursued by large numbers of men treated for prostate cancer despite the impact of erectile dysfunction on quality of life.  Additionally, it would seem that much continued effort is appropriate to offer therapy to prostate cancer survivors with erectile dysfunction.

Arthur L. Burnett, M.D.