Purpose: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lifestyle change on couples of reproductive age and on their desire for parenthood. Materials and methods: A quantitative correlational research study, based on a web survey, was conducted among Italian men and women in heterosexual stable relationships, aged between 18 and 46 years. The self-administered Italian version questionnaire was created using Google Forms and posted on chats and social networks.The mood of participants before and during the quarantine was assessed using a scale from 1 to 10 (1 ¼ no wellbeing; 10 ¼ total wellbeing). Couples' quality of life and their reproductive desire were evaluated. Results: 1482 respondents were included: 944 women (63.7%) and 538 men (36.3%). A significant trend toward reduced mean wellbeing scores during the quarantine, compared to before, was found (p < .01). From 18.1% participants who were planning to have a child before the pandemic, 37.3% abandoned the intention, related to worries of future economic difficulties (58%) and consequences on pregnancy (58%). Of 81.9% who did not intend to conceive, 11.5% revealed a desire for parenthood during quarantine than before (p < .01), related to will for change (50%) and need for positivity (40%). 4.3% of these actually tried to get pregnant. Stratifying by age, a trend toward older ages was found in the desire for parenthood before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (p < .05). Conclusions: COVID-19 pandemic is impacting on the desire for parenthood. It is unknown whether these findings will result in a substantial modification of birth rate in the near future. ARTICLE HISTORY
Objective The aim of the study is to evaluate how individual and couple's sexuality had changed during the COVID-19 pandemic related quarantine. Methods A quantitative correlational research study was conducted, using a web-based survey. Results 1576 participants were involved: 1018 women (64.6%) and 558 men (35.4%). A significant decline in the mean wellbeing scores during the quarantine, compared to before, was reported. A positive correlation between the wellbeing scores and the number of sexual intercourse (SI) before and during the quarantine was found. The mean number of SI decreased significantly during the quarantine. The main reasons were: poor privacy (43.2%) and lack of psychological stimuli (40.9%). 1124 respondents (71.3%) did not report sexual desire (SD) reduction. A positive association between SD and SI during the quarantine was found. 61.2% did not report autoerotism reduction. In those who reported decreased masturbation activity, the main causes were poor privacy (46.4%) and lack of desire (34.7%). We found that men presented lower SD during the quarantine, than women ( p <0.01). Conclusion Potentially, the more time available might lead couples to reconnect at an intimate level and to improve their sexuality. However, the majority of quarantined participants experienced reduced number of SI per week, with poor household privacy and lack of psychological stimuli as cited causes, even as a majority did not report reduced autoeroticism.
Background Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH; Xiapex) injections represent the only licensed medical treatment for Peyronie's disease (PD). Aim To evaluate the efficacy and safety of CCH injections in men with stable PD, using a modified treatment protocol and to assess partners' bother improvement in a large cohort of White-European sexually active heterosexual men treated in a single tertiary-referral center. Methods All the 135 patients enrolled underwent a thorough assessment, which included history taking, physical examination, and pharmacologically induced artificial erection test (intra-cavernous injection) to assess the degree of penile curvature (PC) at baseline and after the completion of the treatment. Patients with calcified plaque and/or ventral curvature were excluded. All patients underwent a modified treatment protocol, which consisted of 3 intra-lesional injections of 0.9 mg of CCH performed at 4-week intervals at the point of maximum curvature. After each injection, patients were instructed to follow a strict routine involving daily penile stretching in the intervals between injections. Outcomes International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)–15, Global Assessment of PD, PD questionnaires (PDQ), and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire were performed at baseline and at the end of treatment. Results Overall, 135 patients completed the study protocol. Before treatment, 18 (13.33%) partners showed a degree of sexual dysfunction. Baseline median IIEF–15, FSFI, and PDQ scores were, respectively, 59.0, 35.0, and 23.0. Overall, both IIEF–total and all domains significantly improved after treatment (all P < .01). A PC mean change of 19.07 (P = .00) was measured. At the univariate linear regression analysis, IIEF–15, IIEF–erectile function, IIEF–sexual desire, and IIEF–intercourse satisfaction were positively associated with FSFI (all P ≤ .03); conversely, PDQ–penile pain, PDQ–symptom bother, and post-treament penile curvature (P ≤ .04) were associated with a decreased FSFI score. Furthermore, median change of PC was significantly associated with median change of FSFI (r = 0.25; 95% CI 0.02–0.11; P = .004). Global satisfaction after treatment was 89.6% (121/135). Clinical Translation This modified CCH treatment protocol could improve both patients' and partner's sexual function. Strength and limitations This was an open-label, single-arm clinical study, without placebo. where only heterosexual couples in stable relationships were included. Furthermore, no real assessment of female sexual distress was carried out and long-term sexual function in both patients and female partners were not taken into account. Conclusions The modified treatment schedule with CCH injections for stable PD has a positive impact on both patients' and partners' sexual function in heterosexual couples with a stable sexual relationship.
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