Sexual dysfunction in 2013: Advances in epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment.

OBJECTIVES

To provide a contemporary review of the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of premature ejaculation (PE) and erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODS

We searched for English-language articles published in the past 12 months using the PubMed database. Relevant articles on the subjects of sexual dysfunction, ED and PE were selected for review.

CONCLUSIONS

Recent studies on male sexual dysfunction have provided new therapeutic possibilities. Tramadol, a well-used analgesic, has a new role in the treatment of PE. Super-selective targeting of dorsal penile nerves by surgery or cryoablative technologies might become a viable treatment option for refractory PE in the future. The role of ED as a harbinger of important comorbidities allows for the early detection and intervention of these conditions, which can optimise therapeutic outcomes. The long-term effect of chronic phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors on endothelial dysfunction, the angiogenic potential of low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy, and further advances in drug-eluting endovascular stents might in future allow clinicians to treat ED more definitively.