[Orgasm after curietherapy with permanent iodine-125 radioimplants for localized prostate cancer].

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Orgasm is a domain of male sexuality that remains underreported in literature. Our aim was to realize the first detailed analysis of orgasm in patients treated by 125 I permanent prostate brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

In a series of 270 sexually active men treated by prostate brachytherapy (125I permanent implantation), 241 (89%), mean age of 65 (43-80), participated in a mailed survey about sexual function after a mean time of 36 months (9-70). Erectile and ejaculatory functions and orgasm were explored using a mailed questionnaire. Two questions focused on orgasm. The first was about quality of orgasm (fast/intense/late, difficult/weak/absent) and the second about the presence of painful orgasm and its frequency (always/sometimes/often).

RESULTS:

After prostate brachytherapy, 81.3% of sexually active men conserved ejaculation and 90% orgasm. There was a significant deterioration of the quality of orgasm (P=0.0001). More than 50% of the patients had an altered orgasm (weak, difficult, absent) after brachytherapy, vs 16% before implantation (P=0.001). Men with a diminished ejaculation volume often had a weak/difficult orgasm (P=0.007). Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy did not seem to impact the quality of orgasm or the frequency of painful ejaculation. Patients who had an IIEF-5 score higher than 12 had frequently intense orgasm (26.7% vs 2.7%; P<0.001) after brachytherapy. Sixty patients (30.3%) experienced often/sometimes painful ejaculation 12.9% (n=31) before implantation (P=0.0001).

CONCLUSION:

Most of the patients treated by prostate brachytherapy conserved orgasm after treatment. However, most of the patients described a deterioration of the quality of orgasm.

• Authors: B Delaunay, M Delannes, A Salloum, D Delavierre, F Wagner, F Jonca, M Thoulouzan, P Plante, J-M Bachaud, M Soulie, E Huyghe
• Journal: Progres en urologie : journal de l'Association francaise d'urologie et de la Societe francaise d'urologie (Prog Urol) Vol. 21 Issue 13 Pg. 932-9 (Dec 2011) ISSN: 1166-7087 [Print] France
• Vernacular Title: Orgasme après curiethérapie de prostate par implants permanents d'iode 125 pour cancer localisé de la prostate.
• PMID: 22118358 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Androgen Antagonists
• Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
• Iodine Radioisotopes

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Algorithms
• Androgen Antagonists (therapeutic use)
• Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal (therapeutic use)
• Brachytherapy (adverse effects)
• Ejaculation (radiation effects)
• Erectile Dysfunction (etiology)
• Health Care Surveys
• Humans
• Iodine Radioisotopes (adverse effects)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Orgasm (radiation effects)
• Pain (etiology)
• Prostatic Neoplasms (drug therapy, radiotherapy)
• Quality of Life
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Treatment Outcome