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Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors in the management of erectile dysfunction secondary to treatments for prostate cancer: findings from a Cochrane systematic review
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Bridget Candy , Louise Jones, Rachael Williams, Adrian Tookman and Michael King
Improved prostate cancer screening, earlier diagnosis and better treatments have increased the number of men living with prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the commonest form of cancer in men in the Western world . In England in 2004 it accounted for 25% of all new male cancer diagnoses. The diagnosis of prostate cancer and its treatment, whether surgical, radiological or medical, are associated with significant emotional and physical morbidity. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the potential sequelae . ED is the persistent or recurrent inability to attain and/or maintain a penile erection sufficient for sexual activity . With estimates of ED prevalence after radical prostatectomy of 60–90% and 67–85% after external beam radiotherapy . The range in estimates is partly due to individual and population differences, specifically the degree of damage the treatment has caused to the vascular and neural supply to the penis and time elapsed since treatment. ED following radiotherapy is not immediate and spontaneous recovery of erectile function (EF) can occur after several years . In addition, EF is influenced by the effects of prostate cancer and its treatments on serum testosterone levels, physical functionality, mental health and the patient's and their partner's wish to remain sexually active . These factors make the management of ED after treatment for prostate cancer challenging.
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Date added to bjui.org: 26/08/2008 (publication information)
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