Assessing satisfaction in men and their female partners after treatment with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors for erectile dysfunction.

The Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS) and its partner version questionnaire were used to assess couples' satisfaction with the use of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) over a 3-month period. Of 161 ED patients, who together with their female partners were invited to answer separate questionnaires at home, 111 patients (68.9%; mean age 61.8 (23-87) years) and female partners (mean age 52.8 (22-77) years) returned completed questionnaires. Patients reported a substantially higher treatment satisfaction score and level of satisfaction with ED treatment than their female partners (P<0.001). Patients with milder severity of ED at baseline and better erectile function after treatment were more likely to be satisfied with the outcome of the treatment. Of the different aspects of satisfaction that patients were asked about, they reported the lowest level of satisfaction about their partners' feeling about continued treatment for ED. Our study shows that more patients than their female partners are more satisfied with medical treatment for ED. To maintain long-term therapy for ED, it is important to include female partners in the assessment and management of the therapy.