Does Radical Prostatectomy Affect Sexual Interest and Satisfaction?
Posted: Tuesday, September 3, 2019
According to research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, patients with prostate cancer who have undergone radical prostatectomy retain interest in and satisfaction from sex after the procedure. The study used the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) to reach these findings.
“PROMIS Global Satisfaction With Sex Life and Interest in Sexual Activity single-item measures are fundamental measures in prostate cancer survivorship,” noted Nnenaya Q. Agochukwu, MD, of the University of Michigan, and colleagues. “Patients are interested in sex despite functional losses and can salvage satisfaction, thereby giving insight into attainable patient-centered survivorship goals for sexual recovery after radical prostatectomy.”
The study included 1,604 patients who had undergone a robotic radical prostatectomy from May 2014 to January 2016. Single-item measures from two PROMIS subdomains, Global Satisfaction With Sex Life and Interest in Sexual Activity, were assessed along with erectile function. Patients’ T scores for each measure were assessed at baseline and again at 24 months.
Both sexual interest and satisfaction followed a similar overall trajectory, showing an initial decline followed by an increase later in the evaluation period. The mean satisfaction T score decreased from baseline to 3 months and then rose between 3 months and 24 months (P < .002). As for the mean interest T score, it dropped significantly between baseline and 3 months (P = .001) and then experienced a large increase between 3 months and 24 months, rising beyond the initial baseline score (P < .001).
Disclosure: The study authors’ disclosure information may be found at ascopubs.org.
