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Quality in Sport

After Radical Prostatectomy: Erectile Dysfunction Diagnosis and Its Treatment - A Literature Review
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After Radical Prostatectomy: Erectile Dysfunction Diagnosis and Its Treatment - A Literature Review

Authors

  • Kinga Pakos Multispeciality Regional Hospital, Dekerta 1 Street, 66-400 Gorzów Wielkopolski https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0629-4043
  • Krzysztof Górczyński Multispeciality Regional Hospital, Dekerta 1 Street, 66-400 Gorzów Wielkopolski https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3558-9676
  • Kornel Majewski 109th Military Hospital SPZOZ, Piotra Skargi 9-11 Street, 70-965 Szczecin https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0009-8235
  • Aleksandra Majewska 109th Military Hospital SPZOZ, Piotra Skargi 9-11 Street, 70-965 Szczecin https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1625-800X
  • Maria Czujkowska 109th Military Hospital SPZOZ, Piotra Skargi 9-11 Street, 70-965 Szczecin https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5136-5214
  • Jan Kowalewski University Clinical Hospital, Przybyszewskiego 49 Street, 60-355 Poznań https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2439-086X
  • Grzegorz Pyc University Clinical Hospital No. 2 Pomeranian Medical University, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72 Street, 70-111 Szczecin https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9570-640X
  • Kamila Durmała Pomeranian Medical University, Rybacka 1 Street, 70-204 Szczecin https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7664-5095
  • Zuzanna Bałoniak Warsaw Southern Hospital, ul. Witolda Pileckiego 99, 02-781 Warszawa https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6968-8781
  • Jakub Mączka 4th Military Clinical Hospital, Weigla 5 Street, 53-114 Wrocław https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6212-3021

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2024.35.56335

Keywords

Prostate cancer, Radical prostatectomy, Erectile dysfunction

Abstract

Introduction and purpose of work: 

In the last 10 years, prostate cancer has become the most common cancer in the Polish population of men with the high growth dynamics. Despite the fact that we are getting better with mortality and new surgery techniques, complications in the form of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunctions after radical prostatectomy are a common problem. This study deals with the second problem, often underestimated by the society, but equally important in maintaining high -quality life. Our goal is to present aethiology, diagnostics and treating patients with erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy due to prostate cancer. It can help doctors who usually do not have contact with such patients, understand the problem and manage effective treatment in their daily practice.

Method: 

We searched for studies and articles via PubMed using the keywords prostate cancer, radical prostatectomy, erectile dysfunction. From screened documents identified from literature search, 52 articles were included in our review.

Summary: 

Erection dysfunction is a complex problem, in which the basis is the interaction of the vascular and nervous systems. To diagnose the patient, you need to conduct a thorough interview, generally about medical history and chronic diseases, but also about sex life. After the diagnosis, there are many treatment  options to choose from, pharmacological and non-pharmacological. An important aspect of treatment that you cannot forget is psychological support which should start from the moment of diagnosis of prostate cancer. Each method has pros and cons, but effective cooperation with the patient will give the desired results.

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patients with veno-occlusive erectile dysfunction. Niger J Clin Pract. 2021;24(4):551-554.

doi:10.4103/njcp.njcp_285_20

Corona G, Monami M, Boddi V, et al. Male sexuality and cardiovascular risk. A cohort study in

patients with erectile dysfunction. J Sex Med. 2010;7(5):1918-1927. doi:10.1111/

j.1743-6109.2010.01744.x

Sridhar AN, Cathcart PJ, Yap T, et al. Recovery of Baseline Erectile Function in Men Following

Radical Prostatectomy for High-Risk Prostate Cancer: A Prospective Analysis Using Validated

Measures. J Sex Med. 2016;13(3):435-443. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.01.005

Walker LM. Psychosocial contributors to patients’ and partners’ postprostate cancer sexual

recovery: 10 evidence-based and practical considerations. Int. J Impot. Res. 2021; 33: 464–472

Walker LM, Wassersug RJ, Robinson JW. Psychosocial perspectives on sexual recovery after

prostate cancer treatment. Nat Rev Urol. 2015;12(3):167-176. doi:10.1038/nrurol.2015.29

Gong B, Ma M, Xie W, et al. Direct comparison of tadalafil with sildenafil for the treatment of

erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Urol Nephrol.

;49(10):1731-1740. doi:10.1007/s11255-017-1644-5

Mulhall JP, Brock G, Oelke M, et al. Effects of Tadalafil Once-Daily or On-Demand vs Placebo

on Return to Baseline Erectile Function After Bilateral Nerve-Sparing Radical Prostatectomy--

Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial (REACTT). J Sex Med. 2016;13(4):679-683.

doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.01.022

Brock G, Montorsi F, Costa P, et al. Effect of Tadalafil Once Daily on Penile Length Loss and

Morning Erections in Patients After Bilateral Nerve-sparing Radical Prostatectomy: Results

From a Randomized Controlled Trial. Urology. 2015;85(5):1090-1096. doi:10.1016/

j.urology.2014.11.058

Montorsi F, Brock G, Stolzenburg JU, et al. Effects of tadalafil treatment on erectile function

recovery following bilateral nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy: a randomised placebocontrolled

study (REACTT). Eur Urol. 2014;65(3):587-596. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2013.09.051

Burns PR, Rosen RC, Dunn M, Baygani SK, Perelman MA. Treatment satisfaction of men and

partners following switch from on-demand phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor therapy to

tadalafil 5 mg once daily. J Sex Med. 2015;12(3):720-727. doi:10.1111/jsm.12818

Brock G, Ni X, Oelke M, et al. Efficacy of Continuous Dosing of Tadalafil Once Daily vs

Tadalafil On Demand in Clinical Subgroups of Men With Erectile Dysfunction: A Descriptive

Comparison Using the Integrated Tadalafil Databases. J Sex Med. 2016;13(5):860-875.

doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.02.171

Nelson CJ, Scardino PT, Eastham JA, Mulhall JP. Back to baseline: erectile function recovery

after radical prostatectomy from the patients' perspective. J Sex Med. 2013;10(6):1636-1643.

doi:10.1111/jsm.12135

Morrisette MJ, Dunn SP. Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors and Oral Nitrates in Male Patients

with Ischemic Heart Disease. Curr Cardiol Rep. 2023;25(6):553-560. doi:10.1007/

s11886-023-01873-y

Eardley I, Donatucci C, Corbin J, et al. Pharmacotherapy for erectile dysfunction. J Sex Med.

;7(1 Pt 2):524-540. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01627.x

Porst H, Burnett A, Brock G, et al. SOP conservative (medical and mechanical) treatment of

erectile dysfunction. J Sex Med. 2013;10(1):130-171. doi:10.1111/jsm.12023

Dinsmore WW, Wyllie MG. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide/phentolamine for intracavernosal

injection in erectile dysfunction. BJU Int. 2008;102(8):933-937. doi:10.1111/

j.1464-410X.2008.07764.x

Gromicho A, Costa P, Araújo D, Pereira D, Ferraz L. Sexual rehabilitation with intracavernous

alprostadil after radical prostatectomy: Outcomes from a nursing program. Arch Ital Urol

Androl. 2021;93(4):404-407. Published 2021 Dec 20. doi:10.4081/aiua.2021.4.404

Della Camera PA, Morselli S, Cito G, et al. Topical alprostadil (Vitaros©) in the treatment of

erectile dysfunction after non-nerve-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. Urologia.

;85(2):55-59. doi:10.5301/uj.5000267

Raina R, Pahlajani G, Agarwal A, Zippe CD. The early use of transurethral alprostadil after

radical prostatectomy potentially facilitates an earlier return of erectile function and successful

sexual activity. BJU Int. 2007;100(6):1317-1321. doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2007.07124.x

Moncada I, Martinez-Salamanca J, Ruiz-Castañe E, Romero J. Combination therapy for erectile

dysfunction involving a PDE5 inhibitor and alprostadil. Int J Impot Res. 2018;30(5):203-208.

doi:10.1038/s41443-018-0046-2

Raina R, Agarwal A, Ausmundson S, et al. Early use of vacuum constriction device following

radical prostatectomy facilitates early sexual activity and potentially earlier return of erectile

function. Int J Impot Res. 2006;18(1):77-81. doi:10.1038/sj.ijir.3901380

Sridhar AN, Cathcart PJ, Yap T, et al. Recovery of Baseline Erectile Function in Men Following

Radical Prostatectomy for High-Risk Prostate Cancer: A Prospective Analysis Using Validated

Measures. J Sex Med. 2016;13(3):435-443. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.01.005

Walker LM. Psychosocial contributors to patients’ and partners’ postprostate cancer sexual

recovery: 10 evidence-based and practical considerations. Int. J Impot. Res. 2021; 33: 464–472

Walker LM, Wassersug RJ, Robinson JW. Psychosocial perspectives on sexual recovery after

prostate cancer treatment. Nat Rev Urol. 2015;12(3):167-176. doi:10.1038/nrurol.2015.29

Gong B, Ma M, Xie W, et al. Direct comparison of tadalafil with sildenafil for the treatment of

erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Urol Nephrol.

;49(10):1731-1740. doi:10.1007/s11255-017-1644-5

Mulhall JP, Brock G, Oelke M, et al. Effects of Tadalafil Once-Daily or On-Demand vs Placebo

on Return to Baseline Erectile Function After Bilateral Nerve-Sparing Radical Prostatectomy--

Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial (REACTT). J Sex Med. 2016;13(4):679-683.

doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.01.022

Brock G, Montorsi F, Costa P, et al. Effect of Tadalafil Once Daily on Penile Length Loss and

Morning Erections in Patients After Bilateral Nerve-sparing Radical Prostatectomy: Results

From a Randomized Controlled Trial. Urology. 2015;85(5):1090-1096. doi:10.1016/

j.urology.2014.11.058

Montorsi F, Brock G, Stolzenburg JU, et al. Effects of tadalafil treatment on erectile function

recovery following bilateral nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy: a randomised placebocontrolled

study (REACTT). Eur Urol. 2014;65(3):587-596. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2013.09.051

Burns PR, Rosen RC, Dunn M, Baygani SK, Perelman MA. Treatment satisfaction of men and

partners following switch from on-demand phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor therapy to

tadalafil 5 mg once daily. J Sex Med. 2015;12(3):720-727. doi:10.1111/jsm.12818

Brock G, Ni X, Oelke M, et al. Efficacy of Continuous Dosing of Tadalafil Once Daily vs

Tadalafil On Demand in Clinical Subgroups of Men With Erectile Dysfunction: A Descriptive

Comparison Using the Integrated Tadalafil Databases. J Sex Med. 2016;13(5):860-875.

doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.02.171

Nelson CJ, Scardino PT, Eastham JA, Mulhall JP. Back to baseline: erectile function recovery

after radical prostatectomy from the patients' perspective. J Sex Med. 2013;10(6):1636-1643.

doi:10.1111/jsm.12135

Morrisette MJ, Dunn SP. Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors and Oral Nitrates in Male Patients

with Ischemic Heart Disease. Curr Cardiol Rep. 2023;25(6):553-560. doi:10.1007/

s11886-023-01873-y

Eardley I, Donatucci C, Corbin J, et al. Pharmacotherapy for erectile dysfunction. J Sex Med.

;7(1 Pt 2):524-540. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01627.x

Porst H, Burnett A, Brock G, et al. SOP conservative (medical and mechanical) treatment of

erectile dysfunction. J Sex Med. 2013;10(1):130-171. doi:10.1111/jsm.12023

Dinsmore WW, Wyllie MG. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide/phentolamine for intracavernosal

injection in erectile dysfunction. BJU Int. 2008;102(8):933-937. doi:10.1111/

j.1464-410X.2008.07764.x

Gromicho A, Costa P, Araújo D, Pereira D, Ferraz L. Sexual rehabilitation with intracavernous

alprostadil after radical prostatectomy: Outcomes from a nursing program. Arch Ital Urol

Androl. 2021;93(4):404-407. Published 2021 Dec 20. doi:10.4081/aiua.2021.4.404

Della Camera PA, Morselli S, Cito G, et al. Topical alprostadil (Vitaros©) in the treatment of

erectile dysfunction after non-nerve-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. Urologia.

;85(2):55-59. doi:10.5301/uj.5000267

Raina R, Pahlajani G, Agarwal A, Zippe CD. The early use of transurethral alprostadil after

radical prostatectomy potentially facilitates an earlier return of erectile function and successful

sexual activity. BJU Int. 2007;100(6):1317-1321. doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2007.07124.x

Moncada I, Martinez-Salamanca J, Ruiz-Castañe E, Romero J. Combination therapy for erectile

dysfunction involving a PDE5 inhibitor and alprostadil. Int J Impot Res. 2018;30(5):203-208.

doi:10.1038/s41443-018-0046-2

Raina R, Agarwal A, Ausmundson S, et al. Early use of vacuum constriction device following

radical prostatectomy facilitates early sexual activity and potentially earlier return of erectile

function. Int J Impot Res. 2006;18(1):77-81. doi:10.1038/sj.ijir.3901380

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Published

2024-12-20

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PAKOS, Kinga, GÓRCZYŃSKI, Krzysztof, MAJEWSKI, Kornel, MAJEWSKA, Aleksandra, CZUJKOWSKA, Maria, KOWALEWSKI, Jan, PYC, Grzegorz, DURMAŁA, Kamila, BAŁONIAK, Zuzanna and MĄCZKA, Jakub. After Radical Prostatectomy: Erectile Dysfunction Diagnosis and Its Treatment - A Literature Review. Quality in Sport. Online. 20 December 2024. Vol. 35, p. 56335. [Accessed 29 June 2025]. DOI 10.12775/QS.2024.35.56335.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Kinga Pakos, Krzysztof Górczyński, Kornel Majewski, Aleksandra Majewska, Maria Czujkowska, Jan Kowalewski, Grzegorz Pyc, Kamila Durmała, Zuzanna Bałoniak, Jakub Mączka

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