Efficacy of Sexual Stimulation in the Treatment of Distal Ureteral Stones: a Meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: A meta-analysis was conducted to study the efficacy of sexual stimulation during the conservative treatment of distal ureteral stones. Methods: All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) devoted to comparing the efficacy of sexual stimulus and placebo in treatment of distal ureteral stones were searched from PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar. The retrieval time ranged from the inception to December 31, 2021. RevMan 5.3 software was used to conduct the statistical analysis. Clinical efficacy was evaluated by the stone passage rate and time and analgesic use. Results: A total of 6 RCTs comprising 535 cases of distal ureteral stones were included. 273 cases were associated with sexual intercourse or masturbation 3-4 times a week, and 262 cases received only conventional medical treatment. The pooled results showed that the 2-week (RR = 1.77, 95% CI [1.34, 2.33]) and 4-week (RR = 1.48, 95% CI [1.29, 1.69]) expulsion rates of the intervention group were significantly higher than in the control group (ps<0.01). Additionally, sexual stimulation was associated with a shorter expulsion time (WMD = -3.74, 95% CI [-6.27, -1.22], p<0.01) and a decreased prevalence of renal colic attacks (WMD = -0.61, 95% CI [-1.01, -0.22], p<0.01). Conclusion: Proper sexual stimulation, such as sexual intercourse or masturbation 3-4 times weekly, can enhance the spontaneous expulsion of distal ureteral stones in patients presenting tolerable pain.