Chronic prostatitis and erectile dysfunction: results from a cross-sectional study.

AIM: To perform a retrospective study aimed at analyzing the frequency of erectile dysfunction (ED) among 285 men with cat. II and cat. III chronic prostatitis (CP) syndromes, and its relation with the severity of CP.

METHODS: The clinical records of patients receiving for the first time a diagnosis of CP at a first level specialized urological outpatient clinic were reviewed. A total of 285 cases were identified and analyzed.

RESULTS: The frequency of ED was higher among subjects showing higher total scores of the two administered questionnaires, i.e. the NIH-Chronic Prostatitis Symptoms Index (NIH-CPSI), and the International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS). No relation emerged between the frequency of ED and the differential classification of prostatitis into cat. II Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis or cat. III CP/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome. The presence of hemospermia and premature ejaculation was associated with an about 4-fold increased risk of ED. However, the presence of benign prostatic hyperplasia did not increase the risk of ED.

CONCLUSIONS: The direct relation between the severity of CP symptoms and ED frequency and severity observed in this study may support the hypothesis that the relation between ED and CP may be mediated by organic mechanisms.