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Sexual function after permanent 125I-brachytherapy for prostate cancer

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 17, pages 96–101 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

We prospectively assessed patients' erectile function (EF) using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and a global assessment questionnaire (GAQ) following permanent 125I-brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer. Of 378 treated patients, 220 had a minimal 2-y follow-up and 131/220 were sexually active prior to brachytherapy, with an EF domain score of ≥11 (study group). Patients were allowed sildenafil at any time of the study. The patients' mean EF score, without excluding patients who used sildenafil, dropped within 3 months after brachytherapy, recovered at the end of the first year and remained unchanged for at least up to 2 y after treatment regardless of the addition of neoadjuvant hormone therapy to 125I-brachytherapy. Analysis of the GAQ revealed that 80% of the patients were satisfied with their sexual function up to 3 y after treatment. Any detrimental effect of permanent brachytherapy with or without the addition of hormone therapy on EF is reversible, and recovery is expected at 1 y after treatment in most patients.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Esther Eshkol for editorial assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel

    N Mabjeesh, J Chen, A Beri, A Stenger & H Matzkin

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  1. N Mabjeesh
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  2. J Chen
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  3. A Beri
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  4. A Stenger
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Correspondence to N Mabjeesh.

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Mabjeesh, N., Chen, J., Beri, A. et al. Sexual function after permanent 125I-brachytherapy for prostate cancer. Int J Impot Res 17, 96–101 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901271

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Keywords

  • erectile function
  • brachytherapy
  • prostate cancer

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