Sexual satisfaction in men with erectile dysfunction: correlates and potential predictors.

INTRODUCTION: Sexual satisfaction is an important treatment objective for men with erectile dysfunction (ED). AIMS: To evaluate potential associations between International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) satisfaction at study endpoint and a range of baseline, on-treatment, and endpoint variables. METHODS: An exploratory analysis was conducted involving 3,935 subjects with ED randomized to on-demand tadalafil (N = 2,824) or placebo (N = 1,111) in randomized, controlled trials across 28 countries. Patients achieving scores > or =16 on IIEF questions 7, 8, 13, and 14 at study endpoint were operationally defined as satisfied (vs. <16, not satisfied). Multivariate logistic regression and other analyses were conducted to ascertain correlates and potential predictors of improvements in the IIEF-erectile function domain (IIEF-EF). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Satisfaction on the IIEF at study endpoint, on-treatment improvements in IIEF-EF, and endpoint sexual frequency. RESULTS: Patients who were satisfied with sexual function were on average younger and had less severe ED, a shorter history of the condition, and no history of vascular disorders, hypertension, or diabetes mellitus/insulin use at baseline (P < 0.01 vs. not satisfied for each). Satisfied patients were also more likely to experience a > or =4-point increase on the IIEF-EF domain on treatment (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 22.4; 95% CI = 17.6-28.5; P < 0.0001) or IIEF-EF > or =26 at endpoint (adjusted OR = 41.0; 95% CI = 33.6-50.2; P < 0.0001). Satisfaction emerged as a strong correlate of a > or =4-point increase in the IIEF-EF on treatment; however, as a correlate of endpoint sexual frequency, baseline sexual frequency was stronger than endpoint satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Satisfaction is associated with certain baseline, on-treatment, and endpoint variables in ED patients. Further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings and explore their meaning for female partners.

Repeated Chlamydia trachomatis genital infections in adolescent women.

BACKGROUND: Repeated Chlamydia trachomatis infections are common among young sexually active women. The relative frequency of reinfection and antibiotic treatment failure is undefined. METHODS: Adolescent women enrolled in a longitudinal cohort had behavioral and sexually transmitted infection assessments performed every 3 months, including amplification tests for C. trachomatis, ompA genotyping, and interviews and diary entries to document sex partner-specific coitus and event-specific condom use. Repeated infections were classified as reinfection or treatment failure by use of an algorithm. All infections for which treatment outcomes were known were used to estimate the effectiveness of antibiotic use. RESULTS: We observed 478 episodes of infection among 210 study participants; 176 women remained uninfected. The incidence rate was 34 episodes/100 woman-years. Of the women who were infected, 121 experienced 1 repeated infections, forming 268 episode pairs; 183 pairs had complete data available and were classified using the algorithm. Of the repeated infections, 84.2% were definite, probable, or possible reinfections; 13.7% were probable or possible treatment failures; and 2.2% persisted without documented treatment. For 318 evaluable infections, we estimated 92.2% effectiveness of antibiotic use. CONCLUSIONS: Most repeated chlamydial infections in this high-incidence cohort were reinfections, but repeated infections resulting from treatment failures occurred as well. Our results have implications for male screening and partner notification programs and suggest the need for improved antibiotic therapies.

Integrated analysis examining first-dose success, success by dose, and maintenance of success among men taking tadalafil for erectile dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES: To examine, in a post-hoc, integrated analysis, the first-dose success, cumulative success by dose, and maintenance of success among men taking tadalafil. Early treatment success is important to men with erectile dysfunction. METHODS: In five double-blind, placebo-controlled, 12-week studies, men were randomized to placebo (n = 308), tadalafil 10 mg (n = 321), or tadalafil 20 mg (n = 258) as a fixed dose. The Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP) diary questions assessed success from three perspectives: (a) first-dose success; (b) cumulative proportion of men with first success by dose; and (c) maintenance of success among men with first-dose success. RESULTS: With the first dose, significantly greater proportions of men taking tadalafil 10 and 20 mg versus placebo achieved successful erection (SEP-Q1: 85% and 90% versus 66%, respectively), successful penetration (SEP-Q2: 74% and 79% versus 47%, respectively), successful intercourse (SEP-Q3: 56% and 67% versus 31%, respectively), and were satisfied overall with their sexual experience (SEP-Q5: 36% and 47% versus 15%, respectively; all P <0.001). The proportion of men achieving first success increased with continued dosing, reaching a plateau between doses 4 and 8 at approximately 95% (SEP-Q2), 90% (SEP-Q3), and 81% (SEP-Q5). For men with first-dose success, the subsequent success rate during the 12-week period was significantly greater for men taking tadalafil 10 and 20 mg versus placebo (all P <0.001; SEP-Q2: 85% and 91% versus 75%; and SEP-Q3: 81% and 88% versus 64%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Most men taking tadalafil achieved successful erection, penetration, and intercourse after one dose and maintained the success over time. Because success increased with continued use, men who do not respond initially should continue treatment to increase the likelihood of treatment success.

Polymorphic membrane protein H has evolved in parallel with the three disease-causing groups of Chlamydia trachomatis.

Chlamydia trachomatis is a human pathogen causing trachoma, urogenital disease, and lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV). A family of nine polymorphic membrane protein genes (pmpA to pmpI), resembling autotransporter proteins, has recently been discovered in C. trachomatis. pmp genes are large and predicted to be outer membrane proteins. We hypothesized that they would contain useful nucleotide sequence variability for epidemiologic studies. Since sequence information is available only for serovars D and L2, we sought to determine the amount of diversity within an individual pmp gene among serovars. We used restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis as a primary screen to assess the amount of sequence divergence among the pmp genes for serovars A to L3 of C. trachomatis. RFLP analysis showed little variation for some of the genes, such as pmpA, but substantial variation in others, such as pmpI. pmpH and pmpE yielded RFLP patterns that clustered the 15 serovars into ocular, urogenital, and LGV groups, and both proteins have been localized to the outer membrane. Therefore, we chose to sequence pmpE, pmpH, and pmpI from each of the 15 serovars. Evolutionary analysis showed three distinct divergence patterns. PmpI was least variable, resulting in an ambiguous evolutionary pattern. PmpE showed a high degree of diversity in the ocular strains compared to the other strains. Finally, the evolution of PmpH shows three groups that reflect disease groups, suggesting this protein may play a role in pathogenesis.