Sexual function stabilizes

A new study showing that, following external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), sexual function doesn’t continue to decline significantly after two years, contradicts some previous thinking. While other recent studies have reported that sexual function gets persistently worse after EBRT, most of these didn’t assess sexual function prior to treatment.

Medical researchers in Philadelphia and California evaluated 143 men with prostate cancer who were treated with EBRT. The men completed questionnaires on their sexual function before treatment and during a median follow-up of about four years (some men were monitored for up to eight years). The evaluation criteria included four areas: libido (sexual drive), erectile function, ejaculation and overall satisfaction. The mean age of the patients was 69 years, median Gleason score was 6, and total radiation dose ranged between 66.6 and 79.2 Gy.

According to the findings, the level of sexual function before therapy was the best indicator for how treatment would affect sexuality afterwards. Baseline scores for sexual drive and erectile function were significantly linked with patients’ age, while ejaculatory function was associated with age, race and marital status. Sexual function (all four areas) only diminished significantly in the first two years after EBRT, and evened out after that (with no significant changes from years two through six).

This study adds to information about this important side effect; better understanding may hopefully help men in making difficult decisions about treatment.