Poststroke Emotional Incontinence and Decreased Sexual Activity

Abstract

Background: Although poststroke depression has been shown to be related to decreased sexual activity (SA), the relationship between poststroke emotional incontinence (EI) and SA has not been properly investigated. Methods: We examined 70 nondepressed, sexually active patients with first-ever stroke approximately 3 months after stroke and conducted a follow-up interview approximately 2 years after stroke in 55 of them. EI (excessive/inappropriate laughing/crying) and SA (libido, coital frequency, erectile function) were assessed with the use of a standardized questionnaire. Results: Of these 70 patients, 24 (34%) had EI 3 months after stroke, which had resolved 2 years after stroke. Libido, coital frequency and erectile function were reported to have declined in 49, 65 and 26% of the patients, respectively, 3 months after stroke, and in 44, 49 and 20% of the patients 2 years after stroke. Multivariate analyses showed that low coital frequency before stroke (CFBS) was significantly (p < 0.05) related to decreased poststroke coital frequency, while the presence of EI (p < 0.05) and low CFBS (p < 0.05) was significantly associated with decreased erectile function 3 months after stroke. Two years after stroke, the presence of EI 3 months after stroke was significantly related to decreased libido, coital frequency and erectile function (p < 0.05 each). Age, gender, laterality of stroke, Barthel Index score, motor dysfunction and the presence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus were not independently related to SA 3 months and 2 years after stroke. Conclusion: The presence of EI is a factor related to decreased poststroke SA, more so in chronic than in subacute stages.

Sexual dysfunction in Nigerian stroke survivors

“…Gender had no influence on the sexual function common to both gender (libido, orgasm, coital frequency and satisfaction with sexual life). This is similar to the findings of Buzzelli et al 5 and Choi-Kwom and Kim 21 . Participants' sexual function was also not affected by the side of hemiparesis, however two psychosocial factors (fear of impotence and fear of another stroke episode) had no significant influence on sexual function.…”

“…Findings from this study showed that there was no significant difference between the motor assessment score of those with sexual dysfunction and those without sexual dysfunction in all the sexual 21 also reported that motor disability has no effect on sexual activities post stroke. Kimura et al 7 on the other hand, reported that physical disability is an important factor influencing post stroke sexual function.…”

Pseudobulbar affect: an under-recognized and under-treated neurological disorder

“…1,6 Clinical case and study data have shown that PBA may cause severe distress, embarrassment, and social disability among patients. 3,[7][8][9][10] In addition, studies have shown that patients with PBA or similar syndromes experience an increased incidence of depression, 11 impairments in executive function 12 and sexual function, 13 and ability to perform activities of daily living 14 10,11,[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32] ). This variability is probably due to differences in the populations studied and in the criteria and methods used for identifying PBA.…”

Sexual Desire During the Menopausal Transition and Early Postmenopause: Observations from the Seattle Midlife Women's Health Study

“…15 Health-related behaviors, such as smoking, ingesting alcohol, and engaging in low levels of physical activity, have been associated with lower sexual desire in some studies. 5,14,18 Experiencing poor health, including such chronic conditions that become more prevalent during the middle years as diabetes, depression, and cardiovascular disease (coronary artery disease), [21][22][23][24][25][26][27] and medication use, including antihypertensives and antidepressants (SSRIs) may also be associated with reduced sexual desire during the MT and early PM. [28][29][30][31][32] Bancroft et al 33 found that although lower sexual desire increases with age, the proportion of women who are distressed about it decreases with age.…”