Sexual function after radical prostatectomy.

Forty-five patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy by a standard technique modified by the author (JEP) were interviewed regarding their sexual function prior to and after the operation. Thirty-five patients were sexually potent prior to the surgery. Post-operatively, 19 patients retained erectile potency (54%), although in 15 partial erections of varying degrees were noted. In 4 of these patients, erections were not satisfactory for sexual intercourse. It is evident that a significant number of patients retained sexual function after radical prostatectomy, even when no particular attention was made to preserve the neurovascular supply.