Role of pelvic floor muscle exercises in management of erectile dysfunction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BackgroundThe prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is increased; skeletal muscle impairment is common and important complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pelvic floor muscle have an important role in sexual activity.Aim of the workTo evaluate effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle exercise in management of erectile dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.PatientsForty patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complaining of erectile dysfunction, with age range of 44–69 years (mean age of 53.4 ± 3.35 years), were selected from outpatient clinic of the chest at Bab el Shaaria Al Azhar University hospital, from January 2013 to August 2014. A written informed consent was taken from all patients included in the research.MethodsFor all patients pulmonary function, arterial blood gases, penile color Doppler, pharmacological evaluation by intracavernous injection of 30 μg of prostaglandin E1, pelvic floor exercises were carried out 90 times daily up to 4 months and the anal manometry was used to measure the maximum anal pressure before and after 4 months of exercises. Participants were categorized according to degree of improvement after 4 months of exercises into complete cure, partial cure and failure groups. Student t-test was used to analyze the gained data of maximum anal pressure.ResultsThere was a significant improvement in maximal anal pressure, and the participant response was 35% complete cure, 40% partial cure, and 25% failure.ConclusionIt could be concluded that pelvic-floor muscle exercises represent a simple and effective treatment for erectile dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.