Sexual function in men born with classic bladder exstrophy: a norm related study.

Purpose: We evaluated erectile function in men born with classic bladder exstrophyusing a validated instrument and compared results with those in agematched controls.Materials and Methods: A total of 28 patients born with bladder exstrophy wereinvited to self-administer an Italian version of the International Index of ErectileFunction-15 to assess erectile and orgasmic function, sexual desire and satisfaction,and overall satisfaction. A score of 25 or less of 30 in the erectile functiondomain was considered diagnostic for erectile dysfunction. Scores in patientswith bladder exstrophy were compared with scores in 38 normal controls whoself-administered the same questionnaire.Results: A total of 19 men (68%) with a median age of 27.1 years (range 18.3 to41.2) returned the questionnaire, of whom 11 (58%) presented with erectiledysfunction compared to 9 (23%) age matched controls (p 0.02). Erectiledysfunction was more common in patients with bladder exstrophy who underwentmultiple continence surgeries. Orgasmic function was also significantlylower in patients with bladder exstrophy than in controls (p 0.001). No differencewas observed between the groups in the sexual desire, sexual satisfactionand overall satisfaction domains.Conclusions: Patients born with classic bladder exstrophy appear to have erectiledysfunction and decreased orgasmic function more commonly than normalcontrols, particularly when they underwent multiple continence surgeries. Sexualdesire seems comparable to that of their peers. Eventually patients withbladder exstrophy seem to lead a sexual life that is as satisfactory as that of their peers.