Sexual Dysfunction in Early-Onset Parkinson’s Disease: A Cross-Sectional, Multicenter Study

Abstract

Background: Sexual dysfunction (SD) is one of the least studied non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Objectives: To assess sexual function in a cohort of patients with early-onset PD (EOPD) and compare it to a group of healthy controls. Methods: In this cross-sectional multicenter study, SD was assessed with gender-specific multi-dimensional self-reported questionnaires: The Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory (BSFI-M) and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Scores between patients and controls were compared and associations between SD and demographical and clinical variables were studied. Results: One hundred and five patients (mean age 47.35±7.8, disease duration 6 (3–11) years, UPDRS part III 17 (10–23) and 90 controls were recruited. The BSFI-M total score was lower in EOPD men than in controls, and specific items were also significantly lower, such as drive, erections, ejaculation, and satisfaction. EOPD women had lower scores than controls in total FSFI, and certain domains such as lubrication and pain. SD was present in 70.2% of patients and 52.5% of controls. Sexual satisfaction in 35.2% of patients and 81.2% of controls. By gender, male and female patients had more SD than controls but only male patients had more dissatisfaction than controls. Gender, higher depression scores and urinary dysfunction were associated with SD in multivariate analysis; and gender, UPDRS and urinary dysfunction with sexual satisfaction Conclusion: In this Spanish cohort, SD and sexual dissatisfaction was more prevalent in EOPD patients than in the general population. Gender and urinary disfunction were associated with SD and sexual dissatisfaction.

Sexual Dysfunctions in Parkinson’s Disease and Their Influence on Partnership—Data of the PRISM Study

“…Assessing only patients that answered at least one sexuality-related question of the questionnaire, 74.6% (female: 63.4%; male: 84.5%) complained of SD. These numbers are in line with previous studies in significantly smaller cohorts reporting the prevalence of SD in PD patients at about 70% [ 16 , 29 ].…”

Striatal dopamine transporter imaging in Parkinson’s disease drug-naïve patients: focus on sexual dysfunction

“…When considering the prevalence of these symptoms compared with healthy controls, one study [ 5 ] found that SD was more frequently reported in male PD patients, with age as the main predictor, and similar results were observed in women with PD [ 6 ]. Regarding factors associated with SD occurrence, a recent cross-sectional multicenter study [ 7 ] found in a cohort of 105 patients with early-onset PD a significant relationship with sex, higher depression scores, and urinary dysfunction. Even though a multinational survey among neurologists revealed a lack of discussing SD, especially for female patients [ 8 ], current literature is emphasizing the importance of addressing and solving sexual issues: it was demonstrated in a longitudinal study involving a large cohort of PD patients that sexual activity is associated with better motor and non-motor outcomes and better quality of life [ 9 ].…”

Longitudinal evolution of non-motor symptoms in early Parkinson’s disease: a 3-year prospective cohort study

“…Some explanations for such novel findings can be considered. Depression has been proven to be a probable contributor to decreased sexual desire in PD 14 . In the present study, we observed that higher HAMD scores were associated with sexual dysfunction (Supplementary Table 4).…”