Tag: Erectile Dysfunction

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Enlarged Prostate

Avoiding Sexual Side Effects Through PAE

Surgical treatment for BPH like TURP can result in adverse sexual effects, while prostate artery embolization, does not carry this same risk.

Surgical treatments for benign prostate hyperplasia, such as TURP can result in significant adverse sexual effects, while prostate artery embolization, does not carry this same risk.

TURP can result in a condition known as retrograde ejaculation.

Some research studies have estimated that 65-75% of men have retrograde ejaculation post-TURP. While other studies, such as this one, estimate that as many as 70-90% of men experience this condition.

Though typically retrograde ejaculation isn’t harmful per se, it is a condition that can result in decreased sexual pleasure and fertility issues.

Prostate Artery Embolization, on the other hand, is associated with little to no sexual side effects.

In fact, some studies have found statistically significant data showing that PAE can actually lead to an improvement in erectile function, such as this one which found an overall improvement in sexual function by 34 percent for the patients, within the first-month post-PAE.

Another study, which was published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine also sought to uncover the impact that prostate artery embolization can have on erectile function.

In the study, researchers looked at 167 patients that underwent PAE and collected data including the Sexual Health Inventory, and other health measurements. The patients were followed up with post-PAE at 3, 6, and 12 months.

What they found was that prostate artery embolization had no adverse effect on erectile function in the majority of patients at 3 months after the procedure, and the number continued to go down at 6 and 12 months.

Though there were still cases of ED, in some of the patients, this was not purported to be directly caused by the procedure and could be due to other complications including preexisting conditions and complications from other procedures such as TURP.

There are also several studies that found Prostate artery embolization to be associated with statistically significant improvement in erectile function.

In our next article, we will take a look at some of these studies.

In the meantime, if you are suffering from the symptoms of benign prostate hyperplasia, and are worried about treatments that could have a negative impact on your sexual health, there are options available.

To set up a consultation in order to find out if prostate artery embolization could benefit you, please call us today at 301-622-5360 or reach out to us through our website.

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Enlarged Prostate

BPH Medications and Sexual Dysfunction: Something to Consider

Some treatment methods for an enlarged prostate can increase problems with sexual dysfunction, and in some cases, even cause them.

Some treatment methods for an enlarged prostate can increase problems with sexual dysfunction, and in some cases, even cause them.

Though prescription drugs are often very good at improving the symptoms of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia- such as urinary issues, they can come with their own set of problems. Because of this, some men may resort to surgery, however, that too comes with its risks regarding sexual function.

Some surgical procedures for men with an enlarged prostate can increase the risk of inadvertently damaging structures around the penis which can lead to erectile dysfunction and other problems.

But before we get to that, let’s take a look at some of the common BPH medications and the effect they can have on sexual health.

We’ll start with the commonly prescribed 5-Alpha reductase inhibitors and the impact these medications that are used to shrink the prostate and reduce BPH symptoms can have on sexual health.

5-Alpha reductase inhibitors show promising results in their ability to shrink the prostate and reduce benign prostate hyperplasia symptoms.

These medications work by inhibiting the 5-alpha reductase enzyme from converting some of the body’s testosterone into dihydrotestosterone- which can cause further prostate growth. Unfortunately, one of the most common side effects of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors is sexual problems.

Several clinical trials have looked at the problem of side effects caused by the 5-alpha inhibitor finasteride, also known by the brand name Proscar.

These studies found that sexual adverse effects occur at the rates of 2.1% to 3.8%, erectile dysfunction (ED) being the most common, followed by ejaculatory dysfunction and loss of libido.

Another common 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, dutasteride (Avodart), has neem known to cause a multitude of adverse effects concerning sexual function. 3.4 to 15.8% of men treated with dutasteride experience erection problems, loss of libido, and reduced semen volume.

Most of these sexual issues caused by 5-alpha inhibitors are believed to be due to their effect on decreasing levels of dihydrotestosterone which is a natural sex hormone and is essential for normal sexual function.

Another type of medication that is commonly prescribed to treat the symptoms of an enlarged prostate is alpha-blockers.

Alpha-blockers, such as tamsulosin ( Flomax) doxazosin (Cardura), and terazosin (Hytrin) work by relaxing the bladder neck, and prostate muscles. Unfortunately, they can also cause erectile issues such as decreased ejaculation. Men who take these medications may also experience lower sperm count, decreased sperm volume, and lower sperm movement.

According to a 2008, Cochrane systematic review that looked at the sexual side effects of Flomax for BPH, 63% of users reported some form of side effect from the medication. The side effects of tamsulosin that were reported the most included erectile dysfunction, reduced libido, and something called retrograde ejaculation or a dry orgasm- where the semen exits into the bladder rather than out of the penis.

Combination medication therapies, such as dutasteride and tamsulosin ( brand name Jalyn), can also cause sexual problems.

Clinical trials found that the most common adverse reactions reported were impotence, decreased libido, breast disorders (including breast enlargement and tenderness), ejaculation disorders, and dizziness.

In fact, studies have found that ejaculation disorders occurred significantly more in subjects receiving coadministration therapy (11%) compared with those receiving dutasteride (2%) or tamsulosin (4%) as monotherapy.

The Bottom Line:  Issues with sexual dysfunction that are caused by certain BPH treatment medications should be taken into consideration.

These issues can be very upsetting and have a detrimental effect on a man’s private life and relationships. Therefore it’s important to discuss any risk of sexual problems that can come alongside your preferred treatment method for BPH.

There are many options out there for treating an enlarged prostate, so it’s important to be open and honest about your concerns and work with your doctor to find the best treatment option with the lowest risks of sexual side effects, such as Prostate Artery Embolization.

To learn more about this state-of-the-art procedure, please call and set up a consultation today.

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Enlarged Prostate

Urinary Symptoms and Sexual Dysfunction

The Mayo Clinic Proceedings published the results of a study that looked at the link between BPH urinary symptoms and sexual dysfunction.

The periodical Mayo Clinic Proceedings published the results of a study that looked at the link between common BPH urinary symptoms and sexual dysfunction.

Researchers studied 2,115 men between the ages of 40 and 79, by having them complete a questionnaire about their sexual function and urinary tract symptoms every two years.

What they found was that sexual function and urinary tract symptoms were indeed related. To put it simply: The greater the urinary symptoms, the lesser the sexual function.

The study also found that the urinary tract symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate that were most associated with sexual dysfunction were:

–  A feeling of urgency

–  Needing to get up multiple times at night to urinate

–  A weak urine stream

–  Straining to start urinating

These urinary symptoms were all associated with:

–  Difficulty getting or maintaining an erection

–  The way men felt about problems with sexual drive, erection, and ejaculation

–  Sexual satisfaction problems

So the solution is to treat the urinary issues caused by BPH, and then as a result, sexual function will improve?

Well, it’s not that simple.

Though there are many ways to treat the urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate, some of these treatment methods can actually make things worse, or even cause sexual dysfunction.

In fact, some drugs that are commonly used to treat benign prostate hyperplasia, can actually cause erectile dysfunction and reduce sperm count.

Though prescription drugs are often very good at improving the symptoms of BPH, they do not tackle the real problem, and they can cause their own set of problems, such as ED.

In order to avoid such issues, some men may resort to surgery. However, it’s important to keep in mind that this too can come with the risk of sexual problems.

Many of these surgical procedures for men with an enlarged prostate, can increase the risk of inadvertently damaging structures around the penis which can lead to erectile dysfunction and other problems.

In our next article, we’re going to dive deeper into the connection between BPH treatment methods and sexual dysfunction.

In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about Prostate Artery Embolization, an outpatient procedure with proven results without the risk of sexual issues, please call us and schedule a consultation today!

 

Categories
Enlarged Prostate

Erectile Dysfunction and an Enlarged Prostate- What’s the Connection?

We’ve all seen the commercials, and heard the jokes. Or maybe you are someone or know someone who’s used it. We’re talking about viagra, and more specifically Erectile Dysfunction. Fortunately, erectile dysfunction, commonly referred to as ED,  is no longer something that’s only whispered about within a relationship, or embarrassingly disclosed to a doctor. It’s an accepted issue, with accepted solutions. However, for those with an enlarged prostate, the solution might not be as easy as a prescription and a pill.

We already know that a man’s prostate continues to grow as he ages, making an enlarged prostate, or BPH, quite commonplace. However, sometimes, without proper treatment, an enlarged prostate can be problematic. An enlarged prostate can lead to many urinary symptoms and increased urinary infections, and yes, it can affect a man’s sex life.

A study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings looked at the link between common BPH urinary symptoms and sexual dysfunction. Researchers studied 2,115 men between the ages of 40 and 79, by having them complete a questionnaire about their sexual function and urinary tract symptoms every two years. What they found was that sexual function and severy of urinary tract symptoms had a definite inverse relationship. The more urinary problems, the less sexual function.

The study also found that the urinary tract symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate that were most associated with sexual dysfunction were:

  • A feeling of urgency
  • Needing to get up multiple times at night to urinate
  • A weak urine stream
  • Straining to start urinating

These urinary symptoms were all associated with:

  • Difficulty getting or maintaining an erection
  • The way men felt about problems with sexual drive, erection, and ejaculation
  • Sexual satisfaction problems

So the solution is to treat the BPH that is causing the urinary issues that are then leading to ED, right?

Yes, but it’s complicated.

Treating the enlarged prostate can be helpful when it comes to urinary issues and ED, however, not all treatments are created equal. In fact, some drugs that are used to treat BPH can actually cause ED and reduce sperm count. Proscar, for example, which is an anti-testosterone drug used to treat BPH has been linked to ED. In fact, studies have found that 3.7% of men using Proscar struggle with ED, and 3.3% report having diminished libido.

That being said, research has also discovered that there is a  positive correlation between drugs used to treat ED, like Viagra and Cialis, which can actually improve BPH and reduce urinary symptoms. It has also been shown that the drug Flomax, an alpha-blocker that relaxes the muscles in the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate- can improve the symptoms of BPH with a lower risk of sexual side effects.

Another treatment option that can help solve problems with ED by reducing or even eliminating the symptoms of BPH, is Prostate Artery Embolization ( PAE).

This minimally invasive procedure, which we offer here at MidAtlantic Vascular and Interventional,  has a high rate of success, with over 90% of men experiencing relief in the first year. And unlike some of the other treatment options, PAE does not affect sexual performance.

If you are one of the many men that struggle with prostate conditions that are causing or contributing to ED, there is a solution.

Please call us today to talk about your treatment options.