Turkish Journal of
GERIATRICS

Ankara Numune Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, 3. Üroloji Kliniği, ANKARA Benign prostate hyperplasia is a common urological problem seen in elderly patients. Lower urinary tract symptoms are commonly related to the disease and have negative effect on the quality of life. Nowadays, there are two main treatment modalities asmedical and surgical for benign prostate hyperplasia patients. Surgical treatment are performed in many patients. Although most of the patients greatly benefited from the surgical methods, they also have negative effects on sexual functions. We assessed the efficacy of surgical treatment on sexual functions in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia. Fifty patients who were admitted to our clinic for lower urinary tract symptomsms were involved in the study. All patients had normal digital rectal examination and serum prostate specific antigen levels. Transurethral resection of the prostate and open prostatectomy were performed in 34 (68%) and 16 (32%) patients, respectively. Although libido, erectile function, ejaculation and sexual intercourse rates were negatively affected in our patients by the surgery in the ratio of 32%, 42%, 46% and 52%, respectively, neither trans uretrhral resectionaf prostate nor open prostatectomy showed any selectivity on the sexual function parameters (p=0.058). The patients with lower urinary tract symptoms should be informed about effects of prostatectomy on sexual functions. Keywords : Prostatectomy, Benign prostate hyperplasia, Sexual function