ESSM Position Statement "Sexual Wellbeing After Gender Affirming Surgery".

INTRODUCTION: Much has been published on the surgical and functional results following Gender Affirming Surgery ('GAS') in trans individuals. Comprehensive results regarding sexual wellbeing following GAS, however, are generally lacking. AIM: To review the impact of various GAS on sexual wellbeing in treatment seeking trans individuals, and provide a comprehensive list of clinical recommendations regarding the various surgical options of GAS on behalf of the European Society for Sexual Medicine. METHODS: The Medline, Cochrane Library and Embase databases were reviewed on the results of sexual wellbeing after GAS. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURE: The task force established consensus statements regarding the somatic and general requirements before GAS and of GAS: orchiectomy-only, vaginoplasty, breast augmentation, vocal feminization surgery, facial feminization surgery, mastectomy, removal of the female sexual organs, metaidoioplasty, and phalloplasty. Outcomes pertaining to sexual wellbeing- sexual satisfaction, sexual relationship, sexual response, sexual activity, enacted sexual script, sexuality, sexual function, genital function, quality of sex life and sexual pleasure- are provided for each statement separately. RESULTS: The present position paper provides clinicians with statements and recommendations for clinical practice, regarding GAS and their effects on sexual wellbeing in trans individuals. These data, are limited and may not be sufficient to make evidence-based recommendations for every surgical option. Findings regarding sexual wellbeing following GAS were mainly positive. There was no data on sexual wellbeing following orchiectomy-only, vocal feminization surgery, facial feminization surgery or the removal of the female sexual organs. The choice for GAS is dependent on patient preference, anatomy and health status, and the surgeon's skills. Trans individuals may benefit from studies focusing exclusively on the effects of GAS on sexual wellbeing. CONCLUSION: The available evidence suggests positive results regarding sexual wellbeing following GAS. We advise more studies that underline the evidence regarding sexual wellbeing following GAS. This position statement may aid both clinicians and patients in decision-making process regarding the choice for GAS. Özer M, Toulabi SP, Fisher AD, et al. ESSM Position Statement "Sexual Wellbeing After Gender Affirming Surgery". Sex Med 2022;10:100471.

Total Phallic Reconstruction Using the Radial Artery Based Forearm Free Flap After Traumatic Penile Amputation.

INTRODUCTION: Although genital injuries in civilian centers are rare, the scenario is completely different in the battlefield. If the penile distal stump is not adequate for primary reimplantation or it cannot be found, then delayed penile reconstruction needs to be considered. AIM: To report a single-center experience with total phallic reconstruction using radial artery based forearm free flap (RAFFF) after penile traumatic loss. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 10 patients who underwent total phallic reconstruction with the use of the RAFFF from September 2001 through August 2015 after traumatic amputation of the penis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients' baseline features, surgical outcomes, complications, and satisfaction are reported. RESULTS: The average age at the time of penile reconstruction was 36 years (range = 27-52 years). The causes of penile loss were self-amputation owing to an acute schizophrenic episode (n = 2), road traffic accident (n = 3), blast injury (n = 3), donkey bite (n = 1), and Fournier gangrene (n = 1). The average time from the trauma to reconstruction with the RAFFF was 7 years (range = 2-15 years). The urethral stump was adequate for primary anastomosis, with phallic neourethra construction in six patients. The remaining patients had complete avulsion of the penis and were voiding though a perineal urethrostomy. In consequence, they required a two-stage urethroplasty. An acute arterial thrombosis of the microsurgical anastomosis occurred in two patients and was managed successfully with immediate exploration. A neourethra stricture and fistula occurred in one patient, which needed revision. All patients who underwent complete urethral reconstruction could void and ejaculate from the tip of the phallus. After a median follow-up of 51 months (range = 1-114 months), all patients were satisfied with the size, cosmetic appearance, and sensation of the phallus. Six patients underwent inflatable penile prosthesis implantation and could engage in penetrative sex. However, revision surgery was needed in three patients (infection, n = 2; mechanical failure, n = 1). CONCLUSION: Despite the high incidence of postoperative complications and the possible need for multiple operations, in expert hands and in large-volume centers, penile reconstruction with the RAFFF after traumatic loss of the penis yields excellent results and allows patients to regain sexual and urinary functions.

Total phallic reconstruction using radial artery based forearm free flap phalloplasty in patients with epispadias-exstrophy complex.

PURPOSE: We report our experience with total phallic construction using the radial artery forearm free flap in patients with bladder/cloacal exstrophy and micropenis-epispadias complex. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed notes on the 16 patients with bladder/cloacal exstrophy and micropenis-epispadias complex treated with total phallic construction using the radial artery based forearm free flap between January 2003 and October 2013. Surgical outcome, phallic cosmesis, complications, eventual need for revision surgery and patient satisfaction were recorded during followup. RESULTS: This technique allowed reconstruction of a cosmetically acceptable phallus in 15 patients. In 1 patient the distal third of the phallus was lost due to acute thrombosis of the arterial anastomosis immediately postoperatively. At a median followup of 20.5 months (range 2 to 38) 15 patients (93%) were fully satisfied with phallic cosmesis and size. Urethral stricture and fistula were the most common complications, which developed only at the native neourethral anastomosis. They were successfully managed by revision surgery. After revision surgery 11 of the 12 patients who underwent penile prosthesis implantation achieved sexual intercourse. CONCLUSIONS: The radial artery based forearm free flap is a good technique for total phallic construction in patients with bladder/cloacal exstrophy and micropenis-epispadias complex, providing reliable cosmetic and functional results.

Overall satisfaction, sexual function, and the durability of neophallus dimensions following staged female to male genital gender confirming surgery: the Institute of Urology, London U.K. experience.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: What factors influence transgender men's decisions to undergo (and to not undergo) specific genital gender confirming surgeries (GCS) has not been described in the literature. Sexual function outcomes related to clitoral transposition and penile prosthesis placement is also not well described. Durability of neophallus dimensions after phalloplasty has not been described. A better understanding of these factors is necessary for pre-op counseling. We sought to assess patient genital-GCS related satisfaction, regret, pre/post-op sexual function, genital preferences, and genital measurements post-op. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated ten female to male transgender patients who had previously undergone suprapubic pedicle-flap phalloplasty [suprapubic phalloplasty (SP); N=10] and 15 who had undergone radial artery forearm-flap phalloplasty [(RAP); N=15; 5/15 without and 10/15 with cutaneous nerve to clitoral nerve anastomosis] at our center (UK). We queried patients' surgery related preferences and concerns, satisfaction, and sexual function pre/post-surgery, and accounted for whether patients had undergone clitoral transposition and/or cutaneous-to-clitoral nerve anastomosis. We measured flaccid and (where applicable) erect length and girth using a smart-phone app we designed. RESULTS: Mean age at surgery and follow-up for those that underwent SP was 35.1 and 2.23 years, and 34 and 6.8 for those that underwent RAP. Mean satisfaction scores were 9.1/10 and 9/10 for those that underwent SP and RAP, respectively. No patient (0%) regretted starting genital-GCS surgery. All (100%) patients that could achieve orgasm before GCS with clitoral transposition could achieve orgasm after surgery, and the vast majority reported preserved quality of erogenous sensation by our transposition technique. All (100%) RAP and 9/10 SP patients reported masturbation with their phallus. Inflatable penile prosthesis placement was not associated with decreased erogenous sensation/orgasm. Penile dimensions were relatively stable through follow-up for both groups. Our App length measurements correlated with a ruler within ±<4.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Female-to-male genital-GCS offered in 3-stages was associated with high overall satisfaction and no regret among our sample. Sexual function appears to be preserved after both clitoral transposition and inflatable prosthesis placement, and consolidation of erogenous sensation to the phallus was described as important to all subjects. Discussion of patient's pre-op sexual function, as well as specific concerns and preferences related to specific genital-GCS surgeries is important.

Factors influencing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcome in men with azoospermia.

UNLABELLED: WHAT'S KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT? AND WHAT DOES THE STUDY ADD?: The management of patients with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and some cases of obstructive azoospermia involves testicular sperm extraction (TESE or micro-dissection TESE) combined with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Several studies have investigated the effect of the male age, the cause of azoospermia, testicular histopathology, the type of sperm used, and the use of pentoxyphilline, on the ICSI cycle outcome in men with azoospermia. The present study showed that none of these factors influenced the ICSI outcome in men with azoospermia, thus once sperm is found in an azoospermic male, no other male factor seems to influence the ICSI outcome. To our knowledge this is the first study to comment on the outcome of ICSI in men with NOA based on testicular histopathology. OBJECTIVES: To access the effect of: male age, the cause of azoospermia (obstructive azoospermia vs non-obstructive azoospermia [NOA]), testicular histopathology, the type of sperm used (fresh vs frozen-thawed), and the use of pentoxyphilline on the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle outcome in men with azoospermia. To our knowledge this is the first study to comment on the outcome of ICSI in men with NOA based on testicular histopathology. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 137 testicular sperm extraction-ICSI cycles performed between 2001-2010, involving 103 men with azoospermia, with 26 couples having repeat cycles. RESULTS: Analysis of the results did not show any statistically significant differences in the fertilization, embryo cleavage, clinical pregnancy, live birth and miscarriage rates in relation to the male age, cuase of azoospermia, testicular histopathology, type of sperm used and the use of pentoxyphilline. CONCLUSION: Once sperm is found in a man with azoospermia, no other male factor seems to influence the ICSI outcome.

The management of residual curvature after penile prosthesis implantation in men with Peyronie's disease.

OBJECTIVE: • To report our experience in the management of residual curvature after implantation of a penile prosthesis in men with Peyronie's disease (PD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: • From January 1985 to June 2009, 62 (29%) of the 209 patients with PD that have undergone the insertion of a penile prosthesis have required an additional straightening procedure to correct the residual curvature after the insertion of the cylinders of the implant. • The types of additional manoeuvres, their success in correcting the residual curvature and eventual complications have been reported. RESULTS: • Among the additional straightening procedures, modelling was more successful in achieving straightening when performed on an inflatable device (84%) than on a malleable implant (54%). • If the curvature persisted after modelling or if the curvature was ventral, straightening was achieved with tunical plications or incision with or without grafting. CONCLUSION: • Although it is common for the simple implantation of cylinders alone to straighten the penis, some patients will present a residual curvature that must be successfully corrected with additional straightening procedures.

Total phallic reconstruction in female-to-male transsexuals.

BACKGROUND: The goal of total phallic construction is the creation of a sensate and cosmetically acceptable phallus. An incorporated neourethra allows the patient to void while standing, and the insertion of a penile implant allows the patient to resume sexual activities, thus improving quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To report our experience of total phallic construction with the use of the radial artery free flap in female-to-male transsexuals. DESIGN, SETTINGS, AND PARTICIPANTS: The notes of the 115 patients who underwent total phallic construction with the use of the radial artery-based forearm free flap between January 1998 and December 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. MEASUREMENTS: The surgical outcome, cosmesis of the phallus, complications, eventual need for revision surgery, and patient satisfaction were recorded during the follow-up. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: This technique allowed the reconstruction of a cosmetically acceptable phallus in 112 patients; 3 patients lost the phallus due to venous thrombosis in the immediate postoperative period. After a median follow-up of 26 mo (range: 1-270 mo), 97% of patients are fully satisfied with cosmesis and size of the phallus. Sensation of the phallus was reported by 86% of patients. Urethral strictures and fistulae in the phallus and join-up site were the most common complications, occurring respectively in 9 and 20 patients; however, after revision surgery, 99% of patients were able to void from the tip of the phallus while standing. CONCLUSIONS: The radial artery-based forearm free flap technique is excellent for total phallic construction, providing excellent cosmetic and functional results.

Total phallic reconstruction after penile amputation for carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience of total phallic reconstruction (TPR) with the use of the radial-artery free flap (RAFF) in patients who have had a subtotal penectomy for penile or urethral cancer, as the goal of TPR is the creation of a sensate and cosmetically acceptable phallus with an incorporated neourethra that allows the patient to void while standing, and with the insertion of a penile implant to resume sexual activities, improving quality of life. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The notes of the 15 patients who had undergone RAFF TPR between January 1998 and May 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. The surgical outcome, cosmesis of the phallus, complications, eventual need for revision surgery and patient satisfaction were recorded during the follow-up. RESULTS: This technique allowed the reconstruction of a cosmetically acceptable phallus in all patients. After a median (range) follow-up of 20 (1-68) months all patients were satisfied with the cosmesis and size of the phallus, and 14 were able to void while standing. Among the seven patients who have subsequently had insertion of a penile prosthesis, five can now engage in sexual intercourse. Urethral strictures and fistulae were the commonest complications in, respectively, three and four cases, and one patient had his penile prosthesis explanted because of infection. CONCLUSIONS: RAFF phalloplasty is an excellent technique for TPR, giving excellent cosmetic and functional results.