Counseling on sexual side effects from TURP

Introduction: We designed a pilot study to measure preoperative sexual dysfunction risk counseling between sexual medicine experts (SME) and general urologists between monopolar/bipolar transuretheral resection of the prostate (TURP) and laser TURP (LT). Materials and methods: An emailed electronic survey was distributed to members of the North Central Section (NCS) of the American Urologic Association and the Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA). Overall, 260 (12.3%) completed the survey. Counseling for ejaculatory disorder (EjD), erectile dysfunction (ED), stricture formation and incontinence was assessed. Additional subset analysis between those SME's versus general urologist was done. Results: Overall, 82% (224) identified as general urologists and 18% (49) as SME. Two-thirds were in private practice versus academic. Over 90% of all practitioners "almost always" counsel about the possibility of EjD, with varied risk rate for LT. Overall, 62%(140) for monopolar TURP (MBT) and 60% (110) for LT "almost always" counsel about ED. There was no statistical difference between groups counseling on incontinence, strictures, EjD or ED between SME and general urologists. Conclusions: Sexual side effects of treatment for LUTS/BPH are appreciated by urologists. Most practitioners counsel about EjD, however the incidence varies between MBT and LT. Practitioners counsel their patients on ED less often than EjD. Counseling rates are not improved with those specializing in sexual medicine independent of TURP technique.