Journal of Peking University (Health Sciences) ›› 2026, Vol. 58 ›› Issue (4): 762-769. doi: 10.19723/j.issn.1671-167X.2026.04.012

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Impact of thulium laser enucleation of the prostate versus transurethral resection of the prostate on sexual function in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: A retrospective cohort study

Kaiyue CHEN1, Shuhui YU1, Jianing HAN1, Ziwei LIU1, Jiahui MA2, Kai ZHANG1, Yisen MENG1,*(), Xinyan CHE1,*()   

  1. 1. Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
    2. Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
  • Received:2026-02-27 Online:2026-08-18 Published:2026-06-05
  • Contact: Yisen MENG, Xinyan CHE
  • Supported by:
    Clinical Research Program for Researching Hospital Wards(BRWEP2024W054070103); Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People' s Republic of China (MIIT) and National Health Commission of the People' s Republic of China (NHC) under the Thulium Fiber Laser Equipment Promotion and Application Project(2024TGYY33); National High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding (Scientific Research Seed Fund of Peking University First Hospital)(2024SF80); National High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding (Scientific Research Seed Fund of Peking University First Hospital)(2025SF083)

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Abstract:

Objective: To compare the effects of thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP) and monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) on sexual function in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving patients who underwent ThuLEP or TURP at the Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, between January 2022 and December 2023. Participants were recruited via convenience sampling. Propensity score matching (PSM) was subsequently employed to balance preoperative baseline characteristics between the two cohorts.Following propensity score matching, we conducted a comparative analysis of sexual function and voiding improvement metrics between the two cohorts. Sexual function was assessed using the international index of erectile function-5 (IIEF-5) scores and the incidence of retrograde ejaculation. Voiding outcomes were evaluated based on the international prostate symptom score (IPSS), qua-lity of life (QOL) scores. Results: Following propensity score matching, the study included 98 patients in both the ThuLEP and the TURP groups. Preoperative comparisons between the two groups regarding age, prostate volume, IIEF-5 scores, incidence of retrograde ejaculation, IPSS, and QOL showed no statistically significant differences (P>0.05), indicating comparability between the groups. Regarding erectile function, postoperative IIEF-5 scores at 1 month and 12 months in both the ThuLEP and TURP groups did not differ significantly from preoperative scores (P>0.05). At 1 month postoperatively, there was no significant difference in IIEF-5 scores between the ThuLEP and TURP groups (P>0.05). At the 12-month postoperative follow-up, the incidence of severe erectile dysfunction was significantly lower in the ThuLEP group compared with the TURP group (Z=8.522, P=0.036). Regarding ejaculatory function, the incidence of retrograde ejaculation at 1 month and 12 months postoperatively in both the ThuLEP and TURP groups differed significantly from preoperative rates (P < 0.05). Moreover, the incidence of retrograde ejaculation increased with time after surgery. At 1 month postoperatively, 9.2% of the ThuLEP group and 14.3% of the TURP group experienced retrograde ejaculation, which was not statistically different (Z=1.231, P=0.267). At 12 months postoperatively, the incidence of retrograde ejaculation in the ThuLEP and TURP groups was 19.4% and 25.5%, respectively, also showing no significant difference (Z=1.055, P=0.304). In terms of surgical parameters, comparisons of operative time, intraoperative blood loss, decrease in hemoglobin levels, and weight of resected prostate tissue between the ThuLEP and TURP groups revealed no significant differences (P>0.05). However, compared with the TURP group, the ThuLEP group had a shorter hospital stay (4 d vs. 5 d, P < 0.001) and shorter duration of indwelling urinary catheterization (3.67 d vs. 4.26 d, P=0.012), although bladder irrigation time was longer (19.00 h vs. 16.68 h, P=0.001). At 1 month and 12 months postoperatively, there were no significant differences between the two groups in IPSS, QOL metrics (P>0.05); how- ever, all these parameters showed significant improvement compared with preoperative values. Conclusion: While both ThuLEP and TURP effectively alleviate lower urinary tract symptoms and improve voiding parameters, ThuLEP offers distinct advantages in safeguarding erectile potency and facilitating accelerated postoperative recovery.

Key words: Prostatic hyperplasia, Transurethral resection of prostate, Laser therapy, Thulium laser, Sexual dysfunction, physiological

CLC Number: 

  • R697.32

Table 1

Baseline characteristics of ThuLEP group and TURP group"

Items TURP (n=98) ThuLEP (n=98) Statistical value P value
Age/years, $\bar x \pm s$ 68.04±6.98 68.62±7.07 -0.580 0.563
Prostate size/mL, $\bar x \pm s$ 98.85±42.38 96.16±46.12 0.426 0.671
Qmax/(mL/s), $\bar x \pm s$ 8.21±3.43 7.97±3.74 0.474 0.636
PVR/mL, M (P25, P75) 74.53 (19.00, 88.10) 74.53 (25.50, 74.53) -0.111 0.911
PSA/(μg/L), M (P25, P75) 4.01 (2.13, 7.82) 4.37 (2.24, 7.82) -0.325 0.745
IPSS, $\bar x \pm s$ 25.51±8.62 27.02±8.49 -1.236 0.218
QOL, $\bar x \pm s$ 4.95±1.09 5.16±1.01 -1.428 0.155
IIEF-5, n(%) 2.057 0.561
  No ED 5 (5.1) 2 (2.0)
  Mild and moderate ED 37 (37.8) 39 (39.8)
  Severe ED 11 (11.2) 15 (15.3)
  Asexual activity 45 (45.9) 42 (42.9)
RE, n(%) 3.047 0.081
  Yes 3 (3.1) 0 (0)
  No 95 (96.9) 98 (100.0)

Table 2

Perioperative metrics of ThuLEP group and TURP group"

Items TURP (n=98) ThuLEP (n=98) Statistical value P value
Operative time/min, $\bar x \pm s$ 60.33±28.91 64.53±29.91 -1.036 0.320
Resected prostate weight/g, $\bar x \pm s$ 50.35±25.34 47.71±22.50 0.770 0.442
Intraoperative blood loss/mL, M (P25, P75) 0.0 (5.0, 22.5) 0.0 (5.0, 50.0) -0.584 0.559
Hemoglobin decrease/(g/L),$\bar x \pm s$ 16.75±11.86 15.44±9.83 0.842 0.401
Hospital stay/d, M (P25, P75) 5 (5, 5) 4 (4, 5) -4.789 <0.001
Cathererization time/d, $\bar x \pm s$ 4.26±1.71 3.67±1.50 2.531 0.012
Bladder irrigation time/h, $\bar x \pm s$ 16.68±3.81 19.00±5.89 -3.268 0.001

Table 3

Postoperative 1-month and 12-month follow-up data of ThuLEP group and TURP group"

Items 1-month postoperative follow-up
TURP (n=98) ThuLEP (n=98) Statistical value P value
IPSS, $\bar x \pm s$ 4.99±4.08 4.80±4.33 0.323 0.747
QOL, M (P25, P75) 5.00 (4.00, 6.00) 6.00 (4.00, 6.00) -1.343 0.179
IIEF-5, n(%) 5.024 0.170
  No ED 7 (7.1) 8 (8.2)
  Mild and moderate ED 22 (22.4) 15 (15.3)
  Severe ED 16 (16.3) 28 (28.6)
  Asexual activity 53 (54.1) 47 (48.0)
RE, n(%) 1.231 0.267
  Yes 14 (14.3) 9 (9.2)
  No 84 (85.7) 89 (90.8)
Items 12-month postoperative follow-up
TURP (n=98) ThuLEP (n=98) Statistical value P value
IPSS, $\bar x \pm s$ 3.95±3.95 3.64±3.70 0.560 0.576
QOL, M (P25, P75) 1.00 (0.00, 1.37) 1.00 (0.00, 2.00) -0.489 0.625
IIEF-5, n(%) 8.522 0.036
  No ED 8 (8.2) 12 (12.2)
  Mild and moderate ED 29 (29.6) 30 (30.6)
  Severe ED 16 (16.3) 4 (4.1)
  Asexual activity 45 (45.9) 52 (53.1)
RE, n(%) 1.055 0.304
  Yes 25 (25.5) 19 (19.4)
  No 73 (74.5) 79 (80.6)

Table 4

Paired comparisons of IIEF-5 scores and RE rate at different time points in the ThuLEP group"

Items Baseline 1 month after surgery 12 months after surgery Baseline vs. 1 month after surgery Baseline vs. 12 months after surgery 1 month after surgery vs. 12 months after surgery
Z P Z P Z P
IIEF-5,n(%) -1.875 0.061 -0.074 0.941 -1.686 0.092
  No ED 2 (2.0) 8 (8.2) 12 (12.2)
  Mild and moderate ED 39 (39.8) 15 (15.3) 30 (30.6)
  Severe ED 15 (15.3) 28 (28.6) 4 (4.1)
  Asexual activity 42 (42.9) 47 (48.0) 52 (53.1)
RE, n(%) -3.000 0.003 -4.359 <0.001 -2.132 0.033
  Yes 0 (0) 9 (9.2) 19 (19.4)
  No 98 (100) 89 (90.8) 79 (80.6)

Table 5

Paired comparisons of IIEF-5 scores and RE rate at different time points in the TURP group"

Items Baseline 1 month after surgery 12 months after surgery Baseline vs. 1 month after surgery Baseline vs. 12 months after surgery 1 month after surgery vs. 12 months after surgery
Z P Z P Z P
IIEF-5, n(%) -1.630 0.103 -0.261 0.794 -1.217 0.224
  No ED 5 (5.1) 7 (7.1) 8 (8.2)
  Mild and moderate ED 37 (37.8) 22 (22.4) 29 (29.6)
  Severe ED 11 (11.2) 16 (16.3) 16 (16.3)
  Asexual activity 45 (45.9) 53 (54.1) 45 (45.9)
RE, n(%) -2.840 0.005 -4.491 <0.001 -2.200 0.028
  Yes 3 (3.1) 14 (14.3) 25 (25.5)
  No 95 (96.9) 84 (85.7) 73 (74.5)
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