Correlation Between Sexual Function and Postrenal Transplant Quality of Life: Does Gender Matter?

Abstract

Introduction Subjective health perceptions affect sexual function differently in males and females; such differences, however, have not hitherto been studied comprehensively in kidney-transplant recipients. Aim This study sought to investigate gender effect on the correlation between sexual function and quality-of-life (QOL) subdomains in kidney-transplant recipients by evaluating intercourse frequency (IF) and intercourse satisfaction (IS). Methods In a cross-sectional study, 124 married kidney-transplant recipients, who were randomly selected, were interviewed. The bivariate correlations between QOL subdomains, and IF and IS were analyzed with the Pearson test in the males and females, separately. Main Outcome Measure The IF and IS using the relationship and sexuality scale, and also the QOL using Short Form 36 (SF-36) were assessed. Results Sixty-seven subjects (54%) reported having no intercourse within the preceding months. Fifty subjects (40%) reported having no intercourse satisfaction. While IF and IS correlated with the total SF-36 score in the males (r =0.252 and 0.263, P <0.05), there was no such correlation in the females. In the males, IS correlated with physical health (r =0.281, P <0.05) and physical function (r =0.274, P <0.05), and there was a correlation between IF and role limitation due to emotional problems (r =0.250, P <0.05). In the females, whereas IF correlated with general health (r =0.372, P <0.05) and mental health (r =0.305, P <0.05), there was no correlation between IS and QOL subdomains (P > 0.05). Conclusion Sexual function and satisfaction seem to be correlated with mental and physical health in female and male kidney-transplant recipients, respectively. Although in the two genders, both physical and mental health should be equally evaluated; improving of the sexual function may be better achieved through different approaches.

Sexual Dysfunction in Women During Dialysis and After Renal Transplantation

“…Desire disorders and arousal disorders were equally present before and after transplantation. Other authors have already described a reduction in vaginal congestion in women on dialysis that can persist after renal transplantation, despite improved subjective arousal, which is probably caused by chronic damage because of hypertension or diabetes [19].…”

Gender Differences in Longitudinal Links between Neighborhood Fear, Parental Support, and Depression among African American Emerging Adults

“…Our study, however, suggests that this relationship differs by gender. Gender, race, ethnicity, and other contextual factors are known to be associated with specific paths that shape well-being, health, and illness [40,[61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71].…”

Intercourse Avoidance among Women with Coronary Artery Disease

“…In this study a response of none was considered as intercourse avoidance. A Persian translation of RSS has been utilized to measure sexual activity of male and female patients with CAD [37–43]. Reliability of this measure was .694 in our study.…”

“…In line with previous studies [61], our bivariate analysis suggested an association between fatigue and physical function and frequency of sexual intercourse among female patients with CAD. There are, however, studies suggesting that fatigue and physical function may have minimal effect on frequency of intercourse in certain populations [38].…”