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Significant changes in erectile dysfunction management seen over 10-year period

Between 2001 and 2010, the use of surgical methods to treat erectile dysfunction decreased substantially, according to recently published data in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.

“The research demonstrates the continued role for the surgical treatments of erectile dysfunction that persists despite the increasing use of oral medications and that variation in this treatment exists even in the absence of clinical factors,” Daniel J. Lee, MD, department of urology, Weill Cornell Medical College, said in a press release.  

Lee and colleagues analyzed data from the Medicare Public Use Files to assess utilization and trends of penile prosthesis for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

In total, 1,763,260 men were diagnosed with erectile dysfunction. During the study period of 2001 to 2010, there was a 165% increase in the number of erectile dysfunction diagnoses.

Of the men diagnosed with erectile dysfunction, 53,180 (3%) had a penile prosthesis inserted. Most men received a multicomponent inflatable penile prosthesis (92.2%), rather than a semirigid penile prosthesis.

There was a significant decrease in the utilization of penile prostheses was seen from 2002 to 2010 (P < .01). While decreases in penile prosthesis use were seen among all men, white men, men aged 70 to 74 years and men in the Midwest saw were among those with the most significant decrease in usage.

The use of penile prostheses was more likely among men aged 65-74 years, from the southern or western United States and those with Charlson comorbidity scores more than one (P < .01).

Semirigid penile prostheses were more likely to be utilized by black men, compared with white men (P < .01). Black men were also more likely to have their penile prostheses revised or removed, compared with white men (P < .01).

“It is interesting to note that while [penile prostheses] provide durable, reliable erections for intercourse and have demonstrated higher patient and partner satisfaction rates compared with intracavernosal injections or PDE-5 inhibitors, the decreasing trend in the use of [penile prostheses] may reflect changes and advances in the medical therapy, but may also represent an underutilization of an effective treatment options. Further studies will be needed to characterize the association more,” Lee and colleagues wrote. – by Casey Hower

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.