Naslov
Improvement of sexual and reproductive function in men with spinal cord lesion

Autori
Kasum, Miro, Orešković, Slavko ; Kordić, Mario ; Čehić, Ermin ; Hauptman, Dinko ; Ejubović, Emina ; Lila, Albert ; Smolčić, Gordana

Izvornik
Acta clinica Croatica (0353-9466) 57 (2018), 1; 149-156

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, pregledni rad, stručni

Ključne riječi
erectile dysfunction – therapy ; male ; pregnancy rate ; quality of life ; sexual dysfunction, physiological – therapy ; sperm motility ; sperm retrieval ; spinal cord injuries

Sažetak
The aim of the review is to establish sexual and reproductive functions in men with spinal cord lesion (SCL). Many sexual and reproductive dysfunctions may be found in these patients including individual's low self-esteem, delay of orgasm, erectile or ejaculatory disorder and abnormalities of semen, which are characterized by lower sperm motility or viability. Owing to improvements in physical medicine and rehabilitation, the focus has been shifted from keeping patients alive towards ensuring the quality of life and improvements of sexual dysfunctions and later reproduction. Erectile dysfunction can be treated by using phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, intracavernosal injections, vacuum devices and penile prostheses. Semen can be retrieved from anejaculatory patients by medically assisted methods utilizing penile vibratory stimulation, electroejaculation, prostate mas-sage, or surgically. Although there is low chance for pregnancy in natural way in most of SCL pa- tients, fatherhood is possible through the introduction of assisted medical management. By use of various medical, technical and surgical procedures for sperm retrieval combined with assisted reproductive methods, high pregnancy rates have been reported comparable to those in able-bodied subfertile patients. Nevertheless, future studies are needed to improve semen quality and methods of assisted ejaculation in patients with SCL.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA