The Impact of Transrectal Prostate Needle Biopsy on Sexuality In Men and Their Female Partners

ObjectivesTo evaluate sexuality in men who have undergone transrectal prostate needle biopsy (TPNB) and their female partners.MethodsNinety-seven men underwent TPNB because of high prostate-specific antigen level (≥2.5 ng/mL) and/or abnormal digital rectal examination findings and their female partners were included in this study. Men were evaluated for erectile function before biopsy, and the first and sixth months after the biopsy with the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5). Female partners completed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) in the same periods together with the men. We assessed IIEF-5 and FSFI score alterations after the biopsies.ResultsThe mean ages of men and their partners were 61.2 (40 to 81) years and 56.8 (34 to 70) years, respectively. The mean IIEF-5 scores were 19.1 ± 5.8, 17.1 ± 5.9, and 16.8 ± 7.5 before the biopsy, and 1 and 6 months after the biopsy, respectively. We found significant differences among prebiopsy IIEF-5 scores and postbiopsy first- and sixth-month IIEF-5 scores (P <0.001). On the contrary, there was no significant difference between the postbiopsy first- and sixth-month IIEF-5 scores (P = 0.335). In the female partners, the mean prebiopsy, postbiopsy first- and sixth-month total FSFI scores were 18.0 ± 6.8, 16.2 ± 6.8, and 16.0 ± 8.4, respectively (P <0.001). In first- and sixth-month postbiopsies, all FSFI subscores were significantly lower than the prebiopsy subscores.ConclusionsTPNB seems to have negative impact on erectile function. Male sexual dysfunction after TPNB also has a negative effect on female sexual function. We believe that couples should be informed about the risk of erectile dysfuncton before TPNB.