Reconsidering the use of the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire in evaluating the preoperative erectile function status of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy

Abstract

The IIEF questionnaire scores are influenced by many factors. Depression after a diagnosis of cancer, and the prostate biopsy-related symptoms, e.g. prostatitis, perineal pain and haemospermia, might compromise the patients' well-being and libido, and thus affect the IIEF scores before RP. We therefore suggest using the IIEFm and EFm scores before prostate biopsy to assess the patients' sexual status before any treatment for localized prostate cancer.