Abstract
Radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer carries many sequelae, including climacturia, which is not commonly discussed and often under-recognized. To better understand treatment options for incontinence and climacturia, as well as those at time of penile implantation surgery, we completed a comprehensive literature review to identify nonoperative and operative treatments for patients with climacturia alone and those with concomitant climacturia and erectile dysfunction. Nonoperative interventions include behavioral modifications, physical therapy, and tension loops. Operative interventions include the artificial urinary sphincter, male urethral slings, Mini-Jupette sling, and a periurethral prosthesis. We also explore options that can be offered to patients who are also in need of penile prosthesis for concomitant erectile dysfunction. Contemporary work suggests that synchronous implantation of certain devices to treat both climacturia and erectile dysfunction can be done with proven safety and efficacy.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 8 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $32.38 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
Data sharing not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analyzed during the current study.
References
Rawla P. Epidemiology of prostate cancer. World J Oncol. 2019;10:63–89.
Schaeffer EM, Srinivas S, Adra N, An Y, Barocas D, Bitting R, et al. NCCN guidelines® insights: prostate cancer, version 1.2023: featured updates to the NCCN guidelines. J Natl Compr Cancer Netw. 2022;20:1288–98.
Bill-Axelson A, Holmberg L, Ruutu M, Häggman M, Andersson SO, Bratell S, et al. Radical prostatectomy versus watchful waiting in early prostate cancer. N Engl J Med. 2005;352:1977–84.
Christine B, Bella AJ. MP48-04 climacturia: an under-addressed sequela of radical prostatectomy, but treatment is only a sling away. J Urol. 2016;195:e636.
El-Khatib FM, Towe M, Choi J, Yafi FA. Management of climacturia during inflatable penile prosthesis surgery. Curr Urol Rep. 2019;20:16.
Powers SA, Odom MR, Pak ES, Moomaw MA, Ashcraft KA, Koontz BF, et al. Prostate-confined radiation decreased pelvic ganglia neuronal survival and outgrowth. J Sex Med. 2019;16:27–41.
O’Neil Brock B, Presson A, Gannon J, Stephenson Robert A, Lowrance W, Dechet Christopher B, et al. Climacturia after definitive treatment of prostate cancer. J Urol. 2014;191:159–63.
Choi Judy M, Nelson Christian J, Stasi J, Mulhall JP. Orgasm associated incontinence (climacturia) following radical pelvic surgery: rates of occurrence and predictors. J Urol. 2007;177:2223–6.
Mulhall JP. Penile length changes after radical prostatectomy. BJU Int. 2005;96:472–4.
Barnas JL, Pierpaoli S, Ladd P, Valenzuela R, Aviv N, Parker M, et al. The prevalence and nature of orgasmic dysfunction after radical prostatectomy. BJU Int. 2004;94:603–5.
Barnas J, Parker M, Guhring P, Mulhall JP. The utility of tamsulosin in the management of orgasm-associated pain: a pilot analysis. Eur Urol. 2005;47:361–5.
Nilsson AE, Carlsson S, Johansson E, Jonsson MN, Adding C, Nyberg T. et al. Orgasm-associated urinary incontinence and sexual life after radical prostatectomy. J Sex Med. 2011;8:2632–9.
Lee J, Hersey K, Lee Charlotte T, Fleshner N. Climacturia following radical prostatectomy: prevalence and risk factors. J Urol. 2006;176:2562–5.
Fode M, Serefoglu EC, Albersen M, Sønksen J. Sexuality following radical prostatectomy: is restoration of erectile function enough? Sex Med Rev. 2017;5:110–9.
Geraerts I, Van Poppel H, Devoogdt N, De Groef A, Fieuws S, Van Kampen M. Pelvic floor muscle training for erectile dysfunction and climacturia 1 year after nerve sparing radical prostatectomy: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Impot Res. 2016;28:9–13.
Sighinolfi MC, Rivalta M, Mofferdin A, Micali S, De Stefani S, Bianchi G. Potential effectiveness of pelvic floor rehabilitation treatment for postradical prostatectomy incontinence, climacturia, and erectile dysfunction: a case series. J Sex Med. 2009;6:3496–9.
Mehta A, Deveci S, Mulhall JP. Efficacy of a penile variable tension loop for improving climacturia after radical prostatectomy. BJU Int. 2013;111:500–4.
Lai HH, Hsu EI, Teh BS, Butler EB, Boone TB. 13 years of experience with artificial urinary sphincter implantation at Baylor College of Medicine. J Urol. 2007;177:1021–5.
Ostrowski I, Blewniewski M, Neugart F, von Heyden B, Selvaggio O, Iori F, et al. Multicentre experience with ZSI 375 artificial urinary sphincter for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in men. Urologia 2017;84:148–52.
Jain R, Mitchell S, Laze J, Lepor H. The effect of surgical intervention for stress urinary incontinence (UI) on post‐prostatectomy UI during sexual activity. BJU Int. 2012;109:1208–12.
Rolle L, Ceruti C, Sedigh O, Timpano M, Destefanis P, Lillaz B, et al. Surgical implantation of artificial urinary device and penile prosthesis through trans-scrotal incision for postprostatectomy urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction: synchronous or delayed procedure? Urology. 2012;80:1046–50.
Segal RL, Cabrini MR, Harris ED, Mostwin JL, Bivalacqua TJ, Burnett AL. Combined inflatable penile prosthesis-artificial urinary sphincter implantation: no increased risk of adverse events compared to single or staged device implantation. J Urol. 2013;190:2183–8.
Patel N, Golan R, Halpern Joshua A, Sun T, Asafu-Adjei AD, Chughtai B, et al. A contemporary analysis of dual inflatable penile prosthesis and artificial urinary sphincter outcomes. J Urol. 2019;201:141–6.
Comiter CV, Dobberfuhl AD. The artificial urinary sphincter and male sling for postprostatectomy incontinence: Which patient should get which procedure? Investig Clin Urol. 2016;57:3–13.
Christine B, Wilson Steven K, Shamloul R, Bella Anthony J. Simultaneous placement of an inflatable penile prosthesis and AdVance male sling for erectile dysfunction and incontinence: Robust efficacy and safety data at 2 year follow-up. J Urol. 2010;183:e490.
Yafi FA, Andrianne R, Alzweri L, Brady J, Butcher M, Chevalier D, et al. Andrianne mini-jupette graft at the time of inflatable penile prosthesis placement for the management of post-prostatectomy climacturia and minimal urinary incontinence. J Sex Med. 2018;15:789–96.
Brady J, Choi E, Foley B, Wilson S, Yafi F. Using mini-jupette slings to treat post radical prostatectomy urinary incontinence: Foreplay incontinence, climacturia, and stress incontinence. J Sex Med. 2022;19:S208–9.
Torrey R, Rajeshuni N, Ruel N, Muldrew S, Chan K. Radiation history affects continence outcomes after advance transobturator sling placement in patients with post-prostatectomy incontinence. Urology. 2013;82:713–7.
Castle Erik P, Andrews Paul E, Itano N, Novicki Donald E, Swanson Scott K, Ferrigni Robert G. The male sling for post-prostatectomy incontinence: mean followup of 18 months. J Urol. 2005;173:1657–60.
Guimarães M, Oliveira R, Pinto R, Soares A, Maia E, Botelho F, et al. Intermediate-term results, up to 4 years, of a bone-anchored male perineal sling for treating male stress urinary incontinence after prostate surgery. BJU Int. 2009;103:500–4.
Levine LA, Becher E, Bella A, Brant W, Kohler T, Martinez-Salamanca JI, et al. Penile prosthesis surgery: current recommendations from the international consultation on sexual medicine. J Sex Med. 2016;13:489–518.
McKibben MJ, Shakir N, Fuchs JS, Scott JM, Morey AF. Erosion rates of 3.5-cm artificial urinary sphincter cuffs are similar to larger cuffs. BJU Int. 2019;123:335–41.
Simhan J, Morey Allen F, Singla N, Tausch Timothy J, Scott JF, Lemack Gary E, et al. 3.5 cm artificial urinary sphincter cuff erosion occurs predominantly in irradiated patients. J Urol. 2015;193:593–7.
Cordon BH, Singla N, Singla AK. Artificial urinary sphincters for male stress urinary incontinence: current perspectives. Med Devices (Auckl). 2016;9:175–83.
Kretschmer A, Buchner A, Grabbert M, Stief CG, Pavlicek M, Bauer RM. Risk factors for artificial urinary sphincter failure. World J Urol. 2016;34:595–602.
Clemens JQ, Schuster TG, Konnak JW, McGuire EJ, Faerber GJ. Revision rate after artificial urinary sphincter implantation for incontinence after radical prostatectomy: actuarial analysis. J Urol. 2001;166:1372–5.
Comiter CV. Surgery Insight: surgical management of postprostatectomy incontinence—the artificial urinary sphincter and male sling. Nat Clin Pract Urol. 2007;4:615–24.
Kim SP, Sarmast Z, Daignault S, Faerber GJ, McGuire EJ, Latini JM. Long-term durability and functional outcomes among patients with artificial urinary sphincters: a 10-year retrospective review from the University of Michigan. J Urol. 2008;179:1912–6.
Giammò A, Ammirati E, Tullio A, Bodo G, Manassero A, Gontero P, et al. Implant of ATOMS® system for the treatment of postoperative male stress urinary incontinence: results of a single centre. Int Braz J Urol. 2019;45:127–36.
Bauer W, Karik M, Schramek P. The self‐anchoring transobturator male sling to treat stress urinary incontinence in men: a new sling, a surgical approach and anatomical findings in a cadaveric study. BJU Int. 2005;95:1364–6.
Hübner WA, Schlarp OM. Treatment of incontinence after prostatectomy using a new minimally invasive device: adjustable continence therapy. BJU Int. 2005;96:587–94.
Lebret T, Cour F, Benchetrit J, Grise P, Bernstein J, Delaporte V, et al. Treatment of postprostatectomy stress urinary incontinence using a minimally invasive adjustable continence balloon device, ProACT: results of a preliminary, multicenter, pilot study. Urology. 2008;71:256–60.
Trigo-Rocha F, Gomes CM, Pompeo ACL, Lucon AM, Arap S. Prospective study evaluating efficacy and safety of adjustable continence therapy (ProACT) for post radical prostatectomy urinary incontinence. Urology. 2006;67:965–9.
Staerman F, G-Llorens C, Leon P, Leclerc Y. ZSI 375 artificial urinary sphincter for male urinary incontinence: a preliminary study. BJU Int. 2013;111:E202–6.
Basiri A, Dadpour M. A case report of the preferred indication for the Zephyr (ZSI 375) artificial urinary sphincter. Urol Case Rep. 2022;43:102058.
Llorens C, Pottek T. Urinary artificial sphincter ZSI 375 for treatment of stress urinary incontinence in men: 5 and 7 years follow-up report. Urologia. 2017;84:263–6.
Acknowledgements
None.
Funding
No financial assistance was received in support of the study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
LC, CC, and JS contributed to literature search and review, and authored the manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
Jay Simhan is a consultant for boston scientific and coloplast.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Chew, L., Chang, C. & Simhan, J. Climacturia: what treatment options do we offer to those with and without concomitant erectile dysfunction?. Int J Impot Res 35, 634–638 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-023-00714-4
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-023-00714-4