Shock wave lithotripsy deteriorates male sexual functions related to the treatment-driven anxiety: A prospective, non-randomized, self-controlled study.

This study aims to investigatel ongitudinal changes in sexual functions (SF), anxiety status, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) in male urolithiasis patients.

METHODS

Between February 2015 and April 2017, 85 consecutive male patients with kidney or ureter stones and treated with SWL were included. Patients were evaluated for SF, anxiety status, and HRQoL with questionnaire forms before and at the third month after SWL. Correlation between baseline and third-month scores of International Index of Erectile Function-15 (IIEF-15) subdomains and anxiety was evaluated. Uni- and multivariable linear regression analyses were used to identify changes in IIEF-15 subdomain scores at three months.

RESULTS

Mean age was 42.80 ± 9.42 years. Significantly decreased IIEF-15 subdomain scores, increased anxiety and Short Form-36 (SF-36) subdomain scores were achieved at three months (p<0.05, for each). The baseline median values of erectile function (IIEFEF), orgasmic function (IIEF-OF), sexual desire (IIEF-SD), intercourse satisfaction (IIEF-IS), and overall satisfaction (IIEF-OS) were 26, 9, 8, 12, and 8, respectively. The same scores were 26, 9, 6, 9, and 8 at month 3, respectively. According to multivariable analysis, the difference in Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scores was an independent risk factor for both changing in IIEF-SD and IIEF-IS (b= -0.094, 95%CI: -0.179 - -0.009, p=0.030 and b= -0.197, 95%CI: -0.350 - -0.044, p=0.012, respectively). The difference in the State Anxiety (STAISA) scores was an independent risk factor for changing in IIEF-IS (b= -0.075, 95%CI: -0.146 - -0.004,p=0.039).

CONCLUSIONS

SWL may lead to impaired SF related to treatment-driven anxiety and significantly improve HRQoL of male patients in short term.