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Endourology and Stones| Volume 86, ISSUE 1, P19-24, July 2015

Can Sexual Intercourse Be an Alternative Therapy for Distal Ureteral Stones? A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Study

      Objective

      To investigate the effect of sexual intercourse on spontaneous passage of distal ureteral stones.

      Material and Methods

      The patients were randomly divided into 3 groups with random number table envelope method. Patients in group 1 were asked to have sexual intercourse at least 3-4 times a week. Patients in group 2 were administered tamsulosin 0.4 mg/d. Patients in group 3 received standard medical therapy alone and acted as the controls. The expulsion rate was controlled after 2 and 4 weeks. Differences in the expulsion rate between groups were compared with the chi-square test for 3 × 2 tables. P <.05 was considered as statistically significant.

      Results

      The mean stone size was 4.7 ± 0.8 mm in group 1, 5 ± 1 mm group 2, and 4.9 ± 0.8 mm group 3 (P = .4). Two weeks later, 26 of 31 patients (83.9%) in the sexual intercourse group, and 10 of 21 patients (47.6%) in tamsulosin group passed their stones, whereas 8 of 23 patients (34.8%) in the control group passed their stones (P = .001). The mean stone expulsion time was 10 ± 5.8 days in group 1, 16.6 ± 8.5 days in group 2, and 18 ± 5.5 days in group 3 (P = .0001).

      Conclusion

      Our results have indicated that patients who have distal ureteral stones ≤6 mm and a sexual partner may be advised to have sexual intercourse 3-4 times a week to increase the probability of spontaneous passage of the stones.
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      Linked Article

      • Editorial Comment
        UrologyVol. 86Issue 1
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          The prevalence of urolithiasis in the United States has steadily increased over the past several years.1 The morbidity caused by stone disease is similarly significant, as 30% of patients diagnosed with stone disease report loss of work associated with the diagnosis.2 Furthermore, when medical expulsive therapy is unsuccessful, procedural intervention often presents a significant financial burden to both the patient and practice.3 As such, and in light of health care reform with greater focus on financial responsibility, the potential therapeutic effect of lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise remains an important consideration.
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