P#44  Evaluation of sexual function during finasteride treatment using the IIEF questionnaire

Bianca Maria Piraccini and Antonella Tosti. Dept of Dermatology, University of Bologna, Italy

The IIEF is a self administered questionnaire which has been internationally validated to explore the male sexual function . Using this method we have recently shown that the sexual function of patients taking finasteride does not significantly differ from that of age matched controls. In order to better evaluate possible changes of the sexual function during finasteride therapy we have administered the questionnaire to 106 males ageing 18-57 years after 3 to 9 months treatment with finasteride 1 mg. Our result indicate that the sexual function explored by the IIEF does not significantly vary during finasteride treatment. This was true also for patients older than 45, confirming the optimal tolerability of the drug at any age. The IIEF is a very good method for the regular follow-up of finasteride therapy since patients feel reassured by this periodical evaluation and possibly do not develop "psychological" sexual side effects. This may explain the total absence of sexual side effects in this series of patients. The utilization of this method in a large series of patients will probably better clarify the real prevalence of sexual side effects during finasteride therapy.