Patient acceptance of and satisfaction with vasoactive intracavernous pharmacotherapy for impotence

Patient acceptance of and satisfaction with a trial of vasoactive intracavernous pharmacotherapy for impotence among 372 men were retrospectively analyzed. Drop out from the dosage determination phase and the training for injection phase was similar, 9.7 and 8.4 per cent, respectively, while 31.4 per cent of the patients dropped out of the home injection phase. Tachyphylaxis, inconvenience of the procedure or the frequent followup visits required, side effects and concern about unknown long-term effects were the main reasons patients cited for dropping out of the trial. The degree of satisfaction among patients who entered the home injection phase was high. Only 55 patients who dropped out of the trial chose implantation of a penile prosthesis. Vasoactive intracavernous pharmacotherapy is an effective treatment for impotence of various etiologies, and in a carefully selected group of patients the acceptance of and satisfaction with this therapy are high.