Bulbocavernosus reflex and somatosensory evoked potential of the pudendal nerve in diabetic impotence

The present study investigated the sensitivity of the bulvocavernosus reflex (BCR) and the somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) of the pudendal nerve in neurogenic impotence, the study comprised 22 males with diabetes type II. Of these, 11 had neurogenic impotence. The SEP was found to be normal in all cases, whereas BCR changes were observed in 36.4% of the patients who were not impotent and in 63.6% of the impotent males. This difference, however, is not statistically significant. The results show that in diabetic pelvic neuropathy compromise of the vegetative fibers does not necessarily mean injury to the somatic.