The Sexual Goals of Metoidioplasty Patients and Their Attitudes Toward Using PDE5 Inhibitors and Intracavernosal Injections as Erectile Aids

Amir Khorrami; Sahil Kumar; Elise Bertin; Richard Wassersug; Cormac O'Dwyer; Smita Mukherjee; Luke Witherspoon; Peter Mankowski; Krista Genoway; Alex G Kavanagh

doi:10.1016/j.esxm.2022.100505

The Sexual Goals of Metoidioplasty Patients and Their Attitudes Toward Using PDE5 Inhibitors and Intracavernosal Injections as Erectile Aids

Sex Med. 2022 Jun;10(3):100505. doi: 10.1016/j.esxm.2022.100505. Epub 2022 Apr 8.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Gender Surgery Program, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
² Gender Surgery Program, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
³ Gender Surgery Program, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
⁴ Gender Surgery Program, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
⁵ Gender Surgery Program, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Electronic address: gsp.research@ubc.ca.

Abstract

Background: Following metoidioplasty, transmen (TM) experience sexual function challenges including erectile dysfunction, which is typically treated in cisgender men with phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i) and intracavernosal injections (ICI).

Aim: We aim to evaluate sexual function post-metoidioplasty and explore attitudes toward using PDE5i and ICI as potential erectile aids METHODS: All patients who had metoidioplasty completed at the Gender Surgery Program in Vancouver, British Columbia were contacted. Participants completed an electronically accessible self-constructed questionnaire consisting of 39 items on erectile function, orgasm, and penetrative intercourse which also captured Erection Hardness Scores (EHS). Data were analyzed via t-test and 1-way ANOVA.

Outcomes: Our outcomes were the importance of erectile function, ability to orgasm, penetrative intercourse, and attitudes towards using PDE5i and ICI post-metoidioplasty.

Results: Fifteen out of 22 patients completed the survey (median age 32 years). Most had metoidioplasty within the past 2 years. The participants ranked the ability to orgasm and to achieve or maintain erections significantly higher than penetrative intercourse (P <.001, P =.005 respectively). Most participants reported facing challenges with penetrative intercourse (87%) and erectile function (80%). In contrast, a smaller proportion reported challenges with orgasm (33%). With regards to EHS, 83% of participants described their erections as either "larger but not hard," or "hard but not hard enough for penetration." A total of 47% of the participants had previously tried PDE5i, but none had used ICI. Although 87% were willing to use PDE5i, only 40% were willing to try ICI to improve their erections. Patients reported lack of knowledge and understanding among primary care physicians as barriers to accessing treatment for sexual dysfunction.

Clinical translation: The results of this study can facilitate decision making for TM undergoing genital gender-affirmation surgery and provide potential options for improving erectile function post surgery.

Strengths & limitations: This study represents the first assessment of sexual function and use of erectile aids in post-metoidioplasty patients. The results of this study are limited by the small sample size and enrolment from a single surgical center.

Conclusion: Metoidioplasty patients surveyed fail to achieve a fully rigid erection without treatment, typically retain the ability to orgasm, and are generally willing to try PDE5i. Khorrami A, Kumar S, Bertin E, et al. The Sexual Goals of Metoidioplasty Patients and Their Attitudes Toward Using PDE5 Inhibitors and Intracavernosal Injections as Erectile Aids. Sex Med 2022;10:100505.

Keywords: Erectile Aids; Erectile dysfunction; Gender-affirming surgery; Intracavernosal injections; Metoidioplasty; Phalloplasty; Phosphodiesterase inhibitors; Sexual dysfunction.