Adverse Effects of Pharmacological Therapy of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia on Sexual Function in Men.

INTRODUCTION The development of effective medications makes pharmacological therapy of BPH the dominant mode of treatment today. It improves urinary symptoms and prevents disease progression while producing side effects on male sexual function. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study is to present the effects of BPH pharmacological treatment on the occurrence of sexually adverse effects in men: changes in sexual desire, erectile, ejaculatory and the orgasmic function. METHODS A prospective study involving 156 BPH patients.The average age was 61.16 ± 2.97. Four groups of 39 patients each were formed.The 4 groups were administered tamsulosin (alpha-blocker), finasteride (5-alpha reductase inhibitor), combination therapy (tamsulosin and finasteride) respectively, while the control group received no treatment. PSS-QoL, IIEF and MSHQ-EjD questionnaires were used to evaluate the symptoms of voiding and sexual function. Follow-up examinations were performed 3 and 6 months into treatment. RESULTS Voiding symptoms improved in all groups receiving therapy. The side effects on the sexual function in all these groups include significant disorders of ejaculation and the orgasmic function. Ejaculation disorders: tamsulosin (-4.38 ± 2.55; p < 0.001), combined therapy (-3.89± 2.84) and finasteride (-1.49 ± 2.52). Orgasmic function disorders: tamsulosin (-1.03 ± 1.94), combined therapy (-0.76 ± 2.07) and finasteride (-0.54 ± 1.68). Complete absence of ejaculation was experienced by 23% of patients on combined therapy, 15% on tamsulosin and 5% on finasteride. CONCLUSION Pharmacological therapy of BPH improved voiding symptoms producing different effects on male sexual function. The main adverse effect on sexual function in men is the deterioration in ejaculation or the absence thereof. Clinical consideration of BPH should include the elements of male sexual function, patients' age, the characteristics and effects of each group of drugs.