{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]],"date-time":"2026-09-22T18:57:26Z","timestamp":1790103446753,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"21","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,28]],"date-time":"2022-10-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1666915200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is a condition that appears with advancing age and affects 1\/3 of men over 50 years, resulting in filling and emptying symptoms. One of the main limitations of endoscopic techniques for BPH is the occurrence of retrograde ejaculation. The purpose of this prospective observational study is to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of ejaculation-sparing thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ES-ThuLEP) in the treatment of BPH-related LUTS and the preservation of ejaculation. Sexually active patients with BPH were enrolled and followed up with at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Personal and pharmacological histories were collected, while three standardized questionnaires\u2014the International Index of Erectile Function short form (IIEF-5), the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire for Male Sexual Matters Associated with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Module (ICIQ\u2014MLUTSsex), and the International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS)\u2014were administered. In addition, all patients underwent uroflowmetry and an assessment of post-void residual volume (PVR). A total of 53 patients were enrolled. A statistically significant improvement in the IPSS score, maximum flow (Qmax), and post-void volume (PVR) at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery was found (p &lt; 0.05), while no statistically significant differences were reported between IIEF-5 scores before and after surgery. A total of 48 patients (88.6%) had preserved ejaculation at 3 months, while 92.4% and 94.3% of patients reported preserved ejaculation at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Nevertheless, some degree of hypoposia was referred, at 3, 6, and 12 months, by 43.7%, 30.6%, and 13.2% of patients, respectively. The ES-ThuLEP technique successfully preserved ejaculation in over 90% of patients, representing an ejaculation-sparing alternative in the treatment of BPH.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm11216365","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,30]],"date-time":"2022-10-30T07:26:50Z","timestamp":1667114810000},"page":"6365","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":25,"title":["Ejaculation Sparing Thulium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate: An Observational Prospective Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9291-2426","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francesco","family":"Trama","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Andrology and Urogynecology Clinic, Santa Maria Terni Hospital, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy"},{"name":"Urology Complex Unit\u2013ASL Napoli 2 Nord \u2018Santa Maria delle Grazie\u2019 Hospital, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Giovanni Di","family":"Lauro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Urology Complex Unit\u2013ASL Napoli 2 Nord \u2018Santa Maria delle Grazie\u2019 Hospital, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ester","family":"Illiano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Andrology and Urogynecology Clinic, Santa Maria Terni Hospital, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fabrizio","family":"Iacono","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of General and Specialized Surgeries, Renal Transplantation, Nephrology, Intensive Care and Pain Management, University of Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Leo","family":"Romis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Urology Complex Unit\u2013ASL Napoli 2 Nord \u2018Santa Maria delle Grazie\u2019 Hospital, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Salvatore","family":"Mordente","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Urology Complex Unit\u2013ASL Napoli 2 Nord \u2018Santa Maria delle Grazie\u2019 Hospital, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria Rosaria","family":"Nugnes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Urology Complex Unit\u2013ASL Napoli 2 Nord \u2018Santa Maria delle Grazie\u2019 Hospital, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stefano","family":"Lai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Urology Complex Unit\u2013ASL Napoli 2 Nord \u2018Santa Maria delle Grazie\u2019 Hospital, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4315-7660","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Felice","family":"Crocetto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of General and Specialized Surgeries, Renal Transplantation, Nephrology, Intensive Care and Pain Management, University of Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4884-132X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Biagio","family":"Barone","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of General and Specialized Surgeries, Renal Transplantation, Nephrology, Intensive Care and Pain Management, University of Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6340-4403","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francesco Paolo","family":"Calace","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Urology Unit, Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania \u201cLuigi Vanvitelli\u201d, 81100 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Giuseppe","family":"Romeo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Urology Department, Azienda Ospedaliera di Rilievo Nazionale Antonio Cardarelli, 80131 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9639-2886","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elisabetta","family":"Costantini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Andrology and Urogynecology Clinic, Santa Maria Terni Hospital, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"554078","DOI":"10.3389\/fendo.2021.554078","article-title":"Endocrinology of the Aging Prostate: Current Concepts","volume":"12","author":"Cannarella","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. 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