Adjustment following surgical implantation of a penile prosthesis: A critical overview

Abstract

The literature on postsurgical adjustment an dor satisfaction of patients and/or their partners following implantation of a penile prosthesis is reviewed. Only those studies that have systematically assessed psychological variables independent of surgical or functional outcome are included. It is reported that while transitory emotionai problems were not uncommon, 64–100% of the implant recipients reported being at least fairly satisfied. Similar levels of satisfaction were reported for their partners when they were interviewed together or when patients responded for their partners. However, lower levels were reported when partners were interviewed separately. Satisfaction was reported to be associated with several variables, and high-risk populations were identfied. It is important to interpret these conclusions with extreme caution because ofthe many serious methodological weaknesses contained in these studies. These methodological problems in the literature are reviewed, and recommendations for future research are presented.