The Impact of Minimally Invasive Pituitary Surgery on Male and Female Sexual Dysfunction in Patients with Pituitary Adenoma

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> In the present study, we prospectively investigated the impact of endoscopic transnasal trans-sphenoidal surgery (ETTS) on sexual function in male and female patients with pituitary adenoma. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The study included a total of 40 consecutive patients (male, <i>n</i> = 28 and female, <i>n</i> = 12) aged 22–65 years, who underwent ETTS for pituitary adenoma in our center between March 2019 and August 2019. Twenty-seven (67.5%) and 13 (32.5%) patients had functioning and nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas, respectively. Routine preoperative hormone levels were obtained in every patient. The tests were repeated at the postoperative third month. Preoperatively and at the postoperative third month, the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was used in male and female patients, respectively. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Before surgery, 24 (85.7%) men had erectile dysfunction (ED), and 10 (83%) women had female sexual dysfunction. After surgery, all the patients’ abnormal hormone parameters improved. All the male patients’ ED degrees were positively affected by surgery. In women, the FSFI was significantly better than in the preoperative period. <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> Our results showed that both males and females with pituitary adenomas benefitted from minimally invasive pituitary surgery in terms of a high-remission rate and improvement in sexual dysfunction.