Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment studies do not measure treatment response and treatment satisfaction (both patient and partner satisfaction) where dissatisfaction reflects an aspirations/achievement gap.
Aim: To test the subjective implications of satisfaction to various therapeutic modalities for pure or mixed organic ED, and to address changes in the health-oriented quality of life (QoL) and the relation of psychiatric status of these patients to treatment satisfaction.
Methods: A prospective study included of 354 couples classified according to their line of therapy into five treated groups: testosterone, sildenafil citrate, intracavernosal injection, external negative vacuum device, and penile prosthesis.
Main outcome measures: Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS) and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). Satisfied patients were compared to unsatisfied cases using the PCASEE scale for QoL and Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire (MHQ) for psychiatric status.
Results: Sildenafil citrate-treated group represented the highest mean value of satisfaction score on EDITS, erectile function, orgasmic function, and overall satisfaction domains of IIEF. Penile implants-treated group was the second for satisfaction score on EDITS. The testosterone-treated group represented the highest mean value for sexual desire domain score of IIEF. Low scores in various domains of QoL were significantly improved among satisfied cases more than unsatisfied subjects after therapy. High association was found between dissatisfaction and scores for anxiety, obsession, and phobia, followed by scores of depression and somatic concomitant of anxiety.
Conclusion: ED is best conceived as intermingle of somatic, lifestyle, psychological, and partner relationship determinants. This should be taken into account to increase sexual satisfaction with improved QoL, and not only to produce rigid erection.