Sexual dysfunction in men with rheumatic diseases

• Main Authors: Laura Groseanu, Vlad Condrache, Andra Balanescu, Violeta Bojinca, Daniela Opris Belinski, Sanziana Daia-Iliescu, Claudia Cobilinschi, Diana Mazilu, Ruxandra Ionescu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amaltea Medical Publishing House 2020-12-01
• Series: Romanian Journal of Rheumatology
• Subjects: rheumatic disease; men sexual dysfunction
• Online Access: https://rjr.com.ro/articles/2020.4/RJR_2020_4_Art-03.pdf
• ISSN: 1843-0791; 2069-6086

Objective. To evaluate sexual function in a cohort of men with rheumatic disease compared to healthy controls. Patients and methods. The study included 60 patients (ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, gout, psoriatic arthritis) and 60 healthy age-matched controls. Sexual function of patients and controls was evaluated by the Sexual Health Inventory for Men and a detailed questionnaire. Results. The mean age of study group was 45,26 (7.8) years. In 90% of the cases sexual life changed after diagnosis: only 1.67% described their sexual life as being very satisfying, while 21.67% as being satisfying, 68.33% as not satisfying and 8.33% as absent. 40% of the patients had diminished libido, significantly lower compared to the study group (p = 0.043). Most patients presented with mild erectile dysfunction (60%), while most of the systemic sclerosis patients presented with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction scores were significantly lower compared to controls (0.009). 55% of the patients reported no influence of the treatment on their sexual life, 38% of the patients reported that specific treatment improved their sexual life.There was no statistical difference between SHIM scores of patients using biological therapies and other drugs. Conclusions. This work suggests that men with rheumatic conditions have a worse sexual function in comparison with healthy control. However, specific disease parameters or treatments were not linked to sexual dysfunction.