UroToday.com - The report, one of four published articles from a population-based cross-sectional study principally on male erectile dysfunction (ED), is based on the responses of 1,580 participants to questions on their alcohol drinking behaviour. To assess the effects of alcohol on erectile function was not the primary objective of the study.

The finding that alcohol consumption within the current guidelines for low-risk drinking was associated with lower odds of ED provides rationale for counseling alcohol drinkers with ED in day-to-day clinical practice. Men with ED need not harbour a sense of guilt about their past or current drinking if they consume alcohol within guidelines.

This should not be interpreted as encouragement for non-drinkers to commence alcohol drinking. A decision by a non-drinker to commence drinking warrants careful consideration and informed decision, as it may be associated with multiple medical, socioeconomic and other implications, some of which could be serious.

Written by Kew-Kim Chew, MD as part of Beyond the Abstract on UroToday.com

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The panel initially covering the topic of Erectile Dysfunction have broadened the scope of their guidelines and have taken in the treatment of premature ejaculation in their updated document.

Since the prior limited update of this guideline considerable data have become available regarding the various drugs on the market for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. The current guidelines include information on the efficacy and non-responders to PDE5 inhibitors, combination and continuous dosage and also touches on drug preference.

Most patients who had to undergo a (nerve-sparing) radical prostatectomy suffer from varying degrees of erectile dysfunction. For a considerable number of these patients PDE5 inhibitors offer improvement.

In their guidelines the panel clearly stress the need for a professional assessment of all patients presenting with ED, where also psychological aspects have to be taken into account. Self-medication and the recreational use of what in many countries are still prescription medications without taking possible side-effects into account are not advocated.

The panel consists of an expert group chaired by E. Wespes and includes E. Amar, I. Eardley, F. Giuliano, D. Hatzichristou, K. Hatzimouratidis, F. Montorsi and Y. Vardi.

Updated guidelines

A number of updated guidelines will be presented at the 24th Annual Congress of the European Association of Urology (EAU) held in Stockholm, from 17 through 21 March. The abridged versions - Pocket Guidelines which are based on the extended text documents will also be available in Stockholm to all EAU members.

Production of clinical guidelines is one of the core activities of the organisation. Close to 150 experts split up over 18 different topic-oriented panels, are involved in this ongoing process. Guidelines aim to present the best evidence available on a given pathology and provide a standardized approach to the treatment of urological conditions. Ultimately, healthcare professionals must make their own decisions about care on a case-by-case basis, after consultation with their patients, using their clinical judgment, knowledge and expertise.

European Association of Urology
http://www.uroweb.org