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Seminal vesicles - an overlooked pair of accessory glands in male sexual dysfunction: a narrative review

International Journal of Impotence Research (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

The seminal vesicles (SVs) have long been recognized for their role in male fertility, yet their contribution to male sexual function is often underestimated. In recent decades, studies have gradually unveiled an association between SVs and various male sexual dysfunctions (SDs), including diminished libido, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation, and orgasmic disorder. We conducted a comprehensive literature search of publications up until April 2024 in PubMed, Google Scholar, and CNKI, focusing on original studies, case reports, and reviews addressing the relationship between SVs and male SDs. The aim was to explore the pathophysiological mechanisms, clinical evaluation, and management of this relationship, providing urologists and andrologists with new insights into diagnosing and treating complex male SDs. Current research suggests that SVs may play a role in male sexual function, but the evidence remains limited. Future large-scale, rigorously designed studies are needed to further validate this relationship.

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Fig. 1: Mechanism of seminal vesicles regulation of libido and erection.

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The data in this paper can be found by searching the listed references on PubMed, Google Scholar, and CNKI.

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Acknowledgements

The figure used in this study was created with the support of FigDraw (https://www.figdraw.com).

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82074440) and Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Jiangsu Province High-Level Hospital Construction Funds (2024GSPKY26).

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Dawei Gao, Chuyu Li, Yihan Jin.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China

    Dawei Gao, Chuyu Li, Yihan Jin & Weiping Chen

  2. State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Center of Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China

    Chuyu Li & Yugui Cui

  3. Reproductive Medicine Center, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, China

    Yihan Jin

  4. Andrology Department of Integrative Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, China

    Dalin Sun & Baofang Jin

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Contributions

DG was responsible for writing the manuscript. CL and YJ participated in the literature screening. DS designed the structure of the article and assisted in manuscript preparation. YC and WC provided revisions to the manuscript. BJ contributed the research topic.

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Correspondence to Weiping Chen or Baofang Jin.

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Gao, D., Li, C., Jin, Y. et al. Seminal vesicles - an overlooked pair of accessory glands in male sexual dysfunction: a narrative review. Int J Impot Res (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-024-01011-4

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