Sexual Dysfunctions Related to Drugs Used in the Management of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Due to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Narrative Review on α-Blockers and 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors
Antonio La Torre,
Caterina Palleria,
Irene Tamanini,
Andrea Scardigli,
Tommaso Cai,
Manuela Colosimo,
Lucia Muraca,
Vincenzo Rania,
Davida Mirra,
Alessandro Casarella,
Gianmarco Marcianò,
Giovambattista De Sarro,
Luca Gallelli
Affiliations
Antonio La Torre
Operative Unit of Psychiatry, Santa Maria del Carmine Hospital, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
Caterina Palleria
Operative Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Mater Domini University Hospital, Department of Health Science, University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Irene Tamanini
Department of Urology, Santa Chiara Regional Hospital, 38100 Trento, Italy
Andrea Scardigli
Department of Urology, Santa Chiara Regional Hospital, 38100 Trento, Italy
Tommaso Cai
Department of Urology, Santa Chiara Regional Hospital, 38100 Trento, Italy
Manuela Colosimo
Operative Unit of Microbiology, Pugliese-Ciaccio Hospital, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Lucia Muraca
General Medicine, Azienda Sanitaria Provinciale 7 Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Vincenzo Rania
Operative Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Mater Domini University Hospital, Department of Health Science, University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Davida Mirra
Operative Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Mater Domini University Hospital, Department of Health Science, University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Alessandro Casarella
Operative Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Mater Domini University Hospital, Department of Health Science, University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Gianmarco Marcianò
Operative Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Mater Domini University Hospital, Department of Health Science, University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Giovambattista De Sarro
Operative Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Mater Domini University Hospital, Department of Health Science, University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Luca Gallelli
Operative Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Mater Domini University Hospital, Department of Health Science, University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
This is a critical review of the current literature data about sexual dysfunction as a potential side effect related to drugs commonly used for the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms. In this narrative review, we analyzed data from the literature related to the development of sexual dysfunctions during the treatment of BPH or LUTS. Both α-blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) can induce erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory disorders and a reduction in sexual desire. The sexual side effect profile of these drugs is different. Among the α-blockers, silodosin appears to have the highest incidence of ejaculatory disorders. Persistent sexual side effects after the discontinuation of finasteride have been recently reported; however, further studies are needed to clarify the true incidence and the significance of this finding. However, most of the published studies are affected by a weak methodology and other important limitations, with only a few RCTs available. Therefore, it is desirable that future studies will include validated tools to assess and diagnose the sexual dysfunction induced by these medications, especially for ejaculation and sexual desire disorders.
