Male sexual function after weight-loss surgeries in a group of Saudi population

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is associated with erectile dysfunction in many studies. This study aims to inspect the impact of weight-loss surgery on the erectile function in the Saudi male population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-two consecutive male patients who underwent weight-loss surgery during a period from February 2013 to July 2016 were included in the study. Unmarried patients were excluded from the study. A designed questionnaire includes the short version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), usage of phosphodiesterase inhibitors, overall satisfaction before and after the intervention, marriage duration, and fertility postsurgery. All the participants were contacted through phone in July 2018, and then the questionnaire was mailed to them. All the data were analyzed and compared to a control group of married obese patients, who were waiting for the bariatric surgeries, using specific statistical tests. RESULTS: Thirty patients responded and completed the survey. Their mean age was 41.9 years (range 26–62), and the mean preoperative body mass index (BMI) was 46.3 ± 7.5, with a significant reduction in the BMI postoperatively to a mean of 30 ± 5.5. The IIEF score improved, and the overall satisfaction and feelings were better (76.7%). Only 16.7% of cases needed PDEI before and after the operation. Thirteen (43.3%) patients got children after the surgery. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that age was a significant factor in association with both erectile function and fertility after bariatric surgeries (P = 0.02). Fertility was better in patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy than gastric bypass surgery (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The weight-loss surgeries have a significant effect on erectile function, and they improve patient sexual satisfaction. Most of these patients feel better sexual function after bariatric surgeries. Fertility outcome seems to have a positive correlation with this type of surgery. However, a larger sample size and more elaborate studies are warranted to substantiate this claim.