{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,17]],"date-time":"2026-06-17T21:26:45Z","timestamp":1781731605820,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,16]],"date-time":"2026-01-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1768521600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences","award":["NIHSS\/SAHUDA-UL\/14"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NIHSS\/SAHUDA-UL\/14"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>With emerging improvement in screening and treatment, most patients with prostate cancer (PCa) live for a long period beyond their diagnosis. Erectile dysfunction (ED) and bowel and urinary incontinence have been shown to be the most bothersome side-effects of most PCa treatment options for patients. With increasing long-term survival, most PCa patients face the prospect of experiencing symptoms, side-effects of available treatment options, and diminished quality of life. The objective of the study was to explore the impact of treatment-induced ED on masculinity among Black South African PCa patients. Twenty (20) prostate cancer patients, selected through purposive sampling and receiving some form of treatment at Pietersburg tertiary Hospital, with ages ranging from 67 to 85 years (mean age = 76 years; SD = 5.3), participated in the study. In-depth, individual semi-structured interviews were used to collect data and analyzed through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The findings indicate that ED threatens or adversely impacts the participants\u2019 perceptions of their sense of masculinity leading to diminished quality of life. The results demonstrate that loss of masculinity brought about by PCa treatment-induced ED is experienced both physically as well as psychologically. The results highlight a need for collaboration between medical and psychological professionals in the management of PCa patients. This is crucial for improving the overall health related quality of life for patients.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph23010110","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,16]],"date-time":"2026-01-16T11:39:37Z","timestamp":1768563577000},"page":"110","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Psychological Impact of Treatment-Induced Erectile Dysfunction on Masculinity: A Study of a Group of Black Elderly Men Undergoing Prostate Cancer Treatment at a Tertiary Hospital in Limpopo Province, South Africa"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"23","author":[{"given":"Shai","family":"Nkoana","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, University of Limpopo, Sovenga 0727, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7592-5145","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tholene","family":"Sodi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"DSI\/NRF-UL SARChl (Mental Health), University of Limpopo, Polokwane 0727, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7838-2721","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Antonio","family":"Lentoor","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Clinical Psychology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0204, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mokoena","family":"Maepa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Clinical Psychology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0204, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kgadi","family":"Thobejane","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Clinical Psychology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0204, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1683","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(24)00651-2","article-title":"The Lancet Commission on prostate cancer: Planning for the surge in cases","volume":"403","author":"James","year":"2024","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"394","article-title":"Global cancer statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries","volume":"68","author":"Bray","year":"2018","journal-title":"CA Cancer J. 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