Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 57. No. 1., 2018.
Review article
https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2018.57.01.19
Improvement of Sexual and Reproductive Function in Men with Spinal Cord Lesion
Miro Kasum
; University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zagreb University Hospital Centre, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Slavko Orešković
; University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zagreb University Hospital Centre, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Mario Kordić
; Department of Urology, Mostar University Clinical Hospital, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ermin Čehić
; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zenica Cantonal Hospital, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Dinko Hauptman
; Department of Urology, Zagreb University Hospital Centre, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Emina Ejubović
; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zenica Cantonal Hospital, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Albert Lila
; Kosovo Occupational Health Institute, Giakove, Kosovo
Gordana Smolčić
; University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zagreb University Hospital Centre, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
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 massage, or surgically. Although there is low chance for pregnancy in natural way in most of SCL patients, 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.
Keywords
Spinal cord injuries; Sexual dysfunction, physiological – therapy; Erectile dysfunction – therapy; Sperm retrieval; Sperm motility; Pregnancy rate
Hrčak ID:
202219
URI
Publication date:
1.3.2018.
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