Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37981616›Full record

Trial reportJournal of cancer survivorship : research and practice2025

An exploration of testicular cancer survivors' experience of ejaculatory dysfunction following retroperitoneal lymph node dissection-a sub-study of the PREPARE clinical trial.

C Conduit, A D Hutchinson, M Leonard, S O 'Haire, M Moody, B Thomas, I Sim, W Hong, G Ahmad, N Lawrentschuk and 3 more

Abstract readClinical Trial, Phase II
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.9field-weighted citation impact, top 14% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors at 9 institutions in 1 country.

C ConduitMedical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
A D HutchinsonJustice & Society, Behaviour-Brain-Body Research Centre, University of South Australia, Magill, Australia.
M LeonardThe Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate (ANZUP) Cancer Trials Group, Camperdown, Australia.
S O 'HaireMedical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
M MoodyMedical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
B ThomasSurgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
I SimEndocrinology, Monash Health and Eastern Health, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
W HongPersonalised Oncology, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
G AhmadAndrology, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
N LawrentschukSurgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
J LewinMedical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
B Tran *Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. ben.tran@petermac.org.
H M Dhillon *Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-Based Decision-Making, School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre · AUUniversity of Melbourne · AUWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research · AUAustralian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group · AUMonash University · AURoyal Children's Hospital · AUThe Royal Melbourne Hospital · AUUniversity of South Australia · AUUniversity of Sydney · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeEjaculatory dysfunction secondary to retrograde ejaculation or anejaculation is a complication of retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) for survivors of testicular cancer. We explored survivors' experiences of ejaculatory dysfunction following RPLND.

methodsIn a sub-study of a single-arm phase 2 clinical trial (ACTRN12622000537752/12622000542796), participants reporting ejaculatory dysfunction ≥ 6 months following RPLND were invited to complete semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling was used. Interviews continued until thematic saturation occurred, and codebook thematic analysis of interviews was performed.

resultsOf 58 individuals recruited to the trial, 33 (57%) reported ejaculatory dysfunction. Of these, 32 (97%) agreed to interview and 15 participated. Participants interviewed had median age 34 years (range 24-66), 12 (80%) in a long-term relationship with median time from surgery 36 months (range 11-112). Three overarching themes were identified. The first reflected the value of RPLND despite ejaculatory dysfunction. The second illuminated the impact(s) of ejaculatory dysfunction closely mapped to life stage, with flow-on impacts to fertility, sex, psychological wellbeing and communication. The third reflected information needs. Fertility was a substantial source of concern for some participants. Ejaculatory dysfunction had no effect on sex for some, whilst for others, sex was less pleasurable. Some reported benefits. Few reported ejaculatory dysfunction challenged masculinity, confidence, or self-esteem.

conclusionsFuture research should examine interventions to reduce distress related to fertility, challenged masculinity and body image. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Whilst most participants considered ejaculatory dysfunction to have little impact on their sexual function and relationships, some reported significant difficulties varying by life stage and relationship status.

Indexed as

Cancer SurvivorsEjaculationLymph Node ExcisionSexual Dysfunction, PhysiologicalTesticular NeoplasmsAdultAgedEjaculatory DysfunctionHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetroperitoneal SpaceYoung AdultEjaculationHealth-related quality of lifeSurvivorTesticular cancer

Identifiers

PMID37981616
OpenAlexW4388832134

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.