Poland: Study on Overactive Bladder and Men's Sexual Health

A large representative population-level study has suggested no significant impact of an overactive bladder (OAB) on men's sexual activity but significantly correlated with erectile dysfunction (ED) and premature ejaculation (PE).

The findings, published in the World Journal of Urology, suggest a need in daily clinical practice for screening overactive bladder symptoms in persons who report premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction.

The effect of OAB on sexual health has been extensively evaluated for women but much less for men. Therefore, Mikolaj Przydacz, Department of Urology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland, and colleagues aimed to evaluate the relationship between overactive bladder and men’s sexual activity and the effect of OAB on erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation in a large representative cohort of men at the population level.

The basis of the study was computer-assisted web interviews that used validated questionnaires. The most recent census and sample size estimation calculations produced a population-representative pool. 3001 men were included, representative of the population in terms of age and place of residence.

Based on the study, the researchers reported the following findings:

• The frequency of sexual intercourse was higher for respondents without OAB symptoms compared with persons who had OAB, but there was no association between OAB symptoms and number of sexual partners.
• Regression models did not confirm the effect of OAB on sexual activity (odds ratio 0.993).
• Both ED and PE were more prevalent in respondents with OAB symptoms compared with persons who lacked those symptoms.
• The effect of OAB on ED or PE was independent of age, comorbidities, and lifestyle habits (regression coefficients of 0.13 and 0.158 for ED and PE, respectively).

In conclusion, the recent findings underscore the importance of screening for OAB symptoms in patients with premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction. While OAB failed to notably impact the frequency of sexual activity, it was strongly associated with higher prevalence rates of both premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction. These associations remained significant even after accounting for age, comorbidities, & lifestyle factors.

Reference:

Przydacz M, Osman N, De Cillis S, Guillot-Tantay C, Herve F, Hüsch T, Illiano E, Fernandez AT, Tutolo M, Vale L, Culha MG, Cancrini F, Doizi S, Geretto P, Raison N, Goldman HB, Chlosta P, Phe V. Overactive bladder negatively affects erectile function and promotes premature ejaculation: findings from large representative population-level study. World J Urol. 2024 Mar 13;42(1):139. doi: 10.1007/s00345-024-04841-5. PMID: 38478079.