Does transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) affect emission of semen?

ABSTRACT

UNLABELLED In the patient's choice of treatment for symptomatic BPH today, more importance has become attached to disturbances in sexual function as a side-effect. This study concerns analyses of semen after TUMT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: TUMT was performed with Prostatron, Prostasoft 2.0. Fourteen men were able to provide semen specimens for this study. One sample was collected before and one three to seven months after TUMT. The analyses of semen included determinations of volume, sperm number, sperm morphology and secretory contribution of seminal vesicular and prostatic fluid. RESULTS: One of the fourteen men could not provide a post-TUMT specimen, despite normal erection. One patient developed pain in the perineum/prostate region post-TUMT when ejaculating and showed azoospermia after the treatment. In analysing the whole group, no statistically significant differences were found between pre- and post-TUMT specimens, regarding semen emission (semen volume, total sperm number, total fructose and zinc) or sperm morphology.