OBSTETRICS, GYNAECOLOGY & UROLOGY Guidelines on the management of erectile dysfunction • British Society for Sexual Medicine • Epidemiology and risk factors – the symptoms of hypogonadism – other urological symptoms (past or present) • Erectile dysfunction (ED) has been defined as the persistent inability to attain and/or maintain an • A digital rectal examination (DRE) of the erection sufficient for sexual performance prostate is not mandatory in ED but should be conducted in the presence of genito-urinary or • The risk factors for ED (sedentary lifestyle, protracted secondary ejaculatory symptoms obesity, smoking, hypercholesterolaemia and the metabolic syndrome) are very similar to the risk • Blood pressure, heart rate, waist circumference factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and weight should be measured • It is clear that ED may be associated with Laboratory testing other causes of CVD such as hypertension, dyslipidaemia and endothelial dysfunction. ED • The choice of investigations depends on the may be the first presentation of serious medical individual circumstances of the patient. Serum conditions such as diabetes or hypertension lipids, fasting plasma glucose, and HbA1c should be measured in all patients Diagnosis • Hypogonadism is a treatable cause of ED that may also make men less responsive, or even non- Initial assessment responsive, to phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors; therefore, all men with ED should have • Sexual history—a detailed description of the serum testosterone measured on a blood sample problem, including the duration of symptoms and taken in the morning between 08.00 and 11.00 original precipitants, should be obtained • Serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) should • Concurrent medical, psychiatric and surgical be considered if clinically indicated. It should history should also be recorded, as should the certainly be measured before commencing current relationship status, history of previous testosterone therapy and at regular intervals sexual partners and relationships. Issues of during testosterone therapy sexual orientation and gender identity should also be noted. Finally, the patient should be asked Cardiovascular system about alcohol, smoking and illicit drug misuse • Coronary heart disease (CHD) is associated • The use of validated questionnaires, particularly with many of the same risk factors as ED. the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) Coronary artery disease (CAD) is often just one or the validated shorter version of the SHIM affected site in a generalised arteriopathy that (Sexual Health Inventory for Men) may be helpful is also likely to affect the arterial inflow to the corpora cavernosum of the penis Physical examinations • ED in an otherwise asymptomatic man may • All patients should have a physical examination. A be a marker for underlying CAD. All men genital examination is recommended, and this is with unexplained ED should have a thorough essential if there is a history of: evaluation and any risk factors for CHD that are – rapid onset of pain identified should be addressed – deviation of the penis during tumescence GUIDELINES 323 www.eGuidelines.co.uk OBSTETRICS, GYNAECOLOGY & UROLOGY • A man with ED and no cardiac symptoms is a – identifying and treating any curable causes of ED cardiac patient until proven otherwise – initiating lifestyle change and risk factor modification • Proactive management of ED in the – providing education and counselling to cardiovascular (CV) patient provides an ideal patients and their partners and effective opportunity to address other CV risk factors and improve treatment outcomes Reversible causes of ED • Men with previously-diagnosed CHD should • Hormonal: be asked about ED as part of their routine – hypogonadism surveillance and management; ED treatments – hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism should be offered to all who desire them – hyperprolactinaemia • Current NICE guidance recommends that all men • Post-traumatic arteriogenic ED in young patients with type 2 diabetes be asked annually about ED, assessed, and offered oral treatment with • Drug-induced ED—drugs may affect sexual the medication with the lowest acquisition cost response in a number of ways: – drugs that cause sedation may affect sexual • There is no evidence that currently licensed motivation and, indirectly, cause ED treatments for ED add to the overall CV risk in – drugs that affect CV function, such as patients with or without previously-diagnosed CVD antihypertensive agents, may act centrally and may also affect penile haemodynamics Specialised investigations – some drugs affect endocrine parameters— anti-androgens and oestrogens may affect • Most patients do not need further investigations both sexual desire and erection unless specifically indicated. However, some – drugs that cause hyperprolactinaemia, such patients wish to know the aetiology of their ED as phenothiazines, may also affect sexual and should be investigated appropriately. Other desire and erection indications for specialist investigations include: – young patients who have always had difficulty • Partner sexual problems in obtaining and/or sustaining an erection – patients with a history of trauma • Psychosexual counselling and therapy – where an abnormality of the testes or penis is found on examination • Radical prostatectomy – patients unresponsive to medical therapies that may desire surgical treatment for ED Lifestyle management Penile abnormalities • Lifestyle modifications can greatly reduce the risk of ED, and should accompany any specific • Surgical problems that cause ED, e.g. phimosis, pharmacotherapy or psychological therapy. tight frenulum and penile curvatures, should be However, pharmacotherapy should not be diagnosed clinically and are usually simple to treat withheld on the basis that lifestyle changes surgically, which results in a permanent cure of ED have not been made • Lifestyle factors include: Treatment – psychosocial issues – adverse side-effects of non-prescription drugs • The primary goal of management of ED is – influence of any co-morbidities, including those to enable the individual or couple to enjoy a in the partner satisfactory sexual experience. This involves: www.eGuidelines.co.uk 324 GUIDELINES OBSTETRICS, GYNAECOLOGY & UROLOGY Management algorithm according to graded cardiovascular risk Sexual inquiry Clinical evaluation Low risk Intermediate risk High risk Cardiovascular Sexual activity Manage ED in primary assessment and deferred until cardiac care setting restratification condition stabilised Risk factors and CHD evaluation, treatment and follow-up for all patients with ED Grading ED management recommendations Cardiovascular status upon presentation of risk for the primary care physician LOW RISK • Controlled hypertension • Asymptomatic ≤3 risk factors for CAD – excluding age and gender • Manage within the primary care setting • Mild valvular disease • Review treatment options with patient and his • Minimal/mild stable angina partner (where possible) • Post successful revascularisation • CHF (NYHA class I) INTERMEDIATE RISK • Recent MI or CVA (i.e. within last 6 weeks) • Asymptomatic but >3 risk factors for CAD – • Specialised evaluation recommended (e.g. excluding age and gender exercise test for angina, echocardiogram for • LVD/CHF (NYHA class II) murmur) • Murmur of unknown cause • Patient to be placed in high or low risk • Moderate stable angina category, depending upon outcome of testing • Heart transplant • Recurrent TIAs HIGH RISK • Severe or unstable or refractory angina • Uncontrolled hypertension • Refer for specialised cardiac evaluation and • (SBP >180 mmHg) management • CHF (NYHA class III, IV) • Treatment for ED to be deferred until cardiac • Recent MI or CVA (i.e. within last 14 days) condition established and/or specialist • High risk arrhythmias evaluation completed • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy • Moderate/severe valve disease ED=erectile dysfunction; CAD=coronary artery disease; NYHA= New York Heart Association; MI=myocardial infarction; CVA=cerebral vascular accident; LVD=left ventricular dysfunction; CHF=congestive heart failure; TIA=transient ischaemic attack; SBP=systolic blood pressure. GUIDELINES 325 www.eGuidelines.co.uk OBSTETRICS, GYNAECOLOGY & UROLOGY • The potential advantages of lifestyle changes reported adverse events. Vardenafil is also may be particularly pronounced in those with available as a 10 mg oro-dispersable tablet psychogenic ED, but patients with serious medical illnesses such as diabetes may also • Vacuum erection devices: benefit from these changes, e.g. weight loss – are highly effective in inducing erections regardless of the aetiology of the ED Hypogonadism and testosterone – reported satisfaction rates vary considerably replacement therapy from 35% to 84% – long-term usage of vacuum devices also • The cause of hypogonadism should always be varies but is considerably higher than for self- sought before treatment with testosterone is injection therapy initiated, but this does not mean that treatment – most men who are satisfied with vacuum for ED should be deferred. Prior assessment and devices continue to use them long term safety monitoring should be performed according – adverse effects include bruising, local pain, to contemporary authoritative guidelines and failure to ejaculate. Partners sometimes report the penis feels cold • Men with a total serum testosterone that is – serious adverse events are very rare but skin consistently <12 nmol/l might benefit from up necrosis has been