TITLE:
Reproductive Hormone Profiles and Their Relationships with Sexual Function in Patients with Prostate Cancer after Rapid Prostatectomy in Benin City
AUTHORS:
Babatunde Ishola Gabriel Adejumo, Omolei Lilian Williams, Efosa Bolaji Odigie, Ifeoma Gloria Unachukwu, Oladimeji Nasiru Abdulrahman, Uchechukwu Dimkpa, Simon Uzor, Oyarazi Margaret Adebowale, Ojo Moses Oke
KEYWORDS:
Reproductive Hormone, Sexual Function, Prostate Cancer, Rapid Prostatectomy
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Sexual Medicine,
Vol.10 No.4,
October
30,
2020
ABSTRACT: There
are limited studies examining the relationship between serum reproductive
hormone levels and sexual functions among prostate cancer (PCa) patients after
rapid prostatectomy (RP). Aim: The present study aimed at evaluating the
correlation between post-operative serum levels of some male reproductive
hormones of PCa patients and their sexual functions in the months following RP. A total
of 20 male patients with clinically localized PCa who had undergone RP within
the last 12 months prior to commencement of the study, were invited to
participate. The postoperative serum levels of their luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle
stimulating hormone (FSH) and total testosterone (Te) were measured. They also
completed a structured health and lifestyle questionnaire to obtain information
on their demographic characteristics and detailed medical history. Our
data indicated normal mean levels of post-operative Te (4.34 ± 4.38 ng/ml) in
the patients following RP, while the mean levels of FSH (39.24 ± 34.12 miu/ml)
and LH (21.67 ± 25.73 miu/ml) were on the increase and far above normal ranges
for healthy men. Data indicated a significant positive correlation between Te
and frequency of sexual intercourse (r = 508; p The present study indicated that radical prostatectomy affected
reproductive hormones by increasing LH and FSH concentrations above normal
ranges for healthy men, while Te concentrations remained within normal range in
the months following RP. The postoperative serum total Te concentrations of the
patients were significantly associated with their postoperative sex drive,
penile erection and frequency of sexual intercourse.