Purpose of review: In the past years, the relationship between lower urinary tract symptoms and erectile dysfunction has been widely explored. The aim of our systematic review is to summarize the published evidence over the past year on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and erectile dysfunction (ED).
Recent findings: Recent data support the relationship between LUTS and ED in Eastern Europe and in Asia. The role of phosphodiesterase inhibitors alone or in combination with alpha blockers to treat LUTS and ED, especially in younger patients, is strongly supported by high level of evidence. LUTS and ED are prevalent conditions in men over 50; epidemiologically, the relationship between both conditions has been confirmed all over the world. PDE5i alone or in combination with alpha blockers can be considered the gold standard for the treatment of young patients with storage symptoms and concomitant ED. In clinical research, a better understanding of the molecular pathways behind this association may also help to identify new possible targets and develop novel therapeutic approaches to manage both disorders; the identification of new biomarkers of both disorders is also compulsory in this area.
Keywords: Diagnosis; Erectile dysfunction; LUTS; Outcome; Prostate; Treatment.