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Exercise therapy for sexual dysfunction after prostate cancer

Nature Reviews Urology volume 10, pages 731–736 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

Sexual dysfunction is one of the most common, distressing and persistent adverse effects of prostate cancer treatment, and has a profound effect on quality of life for the patient and his partner. Current health-care provisions are inadequate to address the demand for the management of sexual dysfunction, with approximately half of prostate cancer survivors reporting unmet sexual health-care needs. Management strategies predominately involve pharmacological interventions to address the direct physiological effects of prostate cancer treatment on erectile function. However, the aetiology of sexual dysfunction is multifaceted and considerable physiological and psychological adverse effects of prostate cancer treatments, which are not addressed by pharmacological intervention, contribute to sexual dysfunction. Exercise has established efficacy for improving many of these factors in men with prostate cancer, including changes in body composition (especially to counteract body feminization), fatigue, physical function, risk of comorbid conditions, depression, anxiety and quality of life. Emerging evidence indicates that exercise also has a positive effect on sexual desire and sexual activity in men with prostate cancer.

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Figure 1: An overview of prostate cancer treatment sequelae contributing to sexual dysfunction.
Figure 2: The effect of appropriately prescribed exercise on prostate cancer treatment sequelae contributing to sexual dysfunction.
Figure 3: Proposed multidisciplinary model for managing sexual dysfunction secondary to prostate cancer treatment.

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Acknowledgements

P. Cormie is supported by the Cancer Council Western Australia Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. D. A. Galvão is funded by a Movember New Directions Development Award obtained through Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia's Research Programme.

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  1. Edith Cowan University Health and Wellness Institute, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, 6027, WA, Australia

    Prue Cormie, Robert U. Newton, Dennis R. Taaffe, Nigel Spry & Daniel A. Galvão

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P. Cormie researched data for the article and wrote the manuscript. All authors made a substantial contribution to discussions of content, and reviewed and edited the manuscript before submission.

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Correspondence to Prue Cormie.

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Cormie, P., Newton, R., Taaffe, D. et al. Exercise therapy for sexual dysfunction after prostate cancer. Nat Rev Urol 10, 731–736 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrurol.2013.206

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