Sexual functioning in patients with lower urinary tract dysfunction improves after percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the effect of lower urinary tract dysfunction and its neuromodulative therapy on sexual functioning. We studied 121 patients with an overactive bladder (OAB) (N ¼ 83), chronic pelvic pain (N ¼ 23) and nonobstructive retention (N ¼ 15), which were treated with neuromodulation (i.e. percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation, PTNS). To obtain information on their sexual function, a self-administered standardized questionnaire was filled out before therapy as well as after 12 weeks of treatment. Before therapy, different aspects of sexual life were considered not normal in 25.3-45.6% of the cases. This improved significantly after treatment. Patients most likely to benefit were women, patients with an OAB and subjective responders. The aspects of sexual life which mostly improved were overall satisfaction, libido and the frequency of sexual activities. Sexual dysfunction is observed in a lot of patients with lower urinary tract disorders and may improve on successful therapy for the latter.

Effects of Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation Therapy on Chronic Pelvic Pain

“…Most of the patients reported having sexual function disorder before treatment, but they were found to have more desire, more frequent intercourse and be more satisfied in their sexual lives after treatment. Although positive changes after treatment were detected in women with overactive bladder, no statistically significant difference was found in patients with CPP [24]. Women’s total FSFI scores obtained in our study were 20.87 ± 6.76 for the experimental group before treatment and 21.47 ± 5.87 for the women in the control group.…”

“…Verit et al [23] found that women with CPP had sexual pain disorder most frequently (74.3%) followed by hypoactive sexual desire disorder (53.8%). Van Balken et al [24] claimed that the sexual lives of many patients with lower urinary system function disorder improve after treatment (PTNS) and they have fewer urological complaints. Their multicentric prospective study included 121 patients (45 men, 76 women): 83 with overactive bladder (22 men, 61 women), 23 with CPP (17 men, 6 women) and 15 with nonobstructive urinary retention (9 men, 6 women).…”

Improvement of sexual function after transobturator tape procedure in women with stress urinary incontinence

“…The NSF does not differentiate between leakage at penetration or during organism. This questionnaire is originally developed to measure the influence of medication on sexual functioning, however is also been used in treatment modalities like percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation [26]. The severity of symptoms is quantified using a five-point Likert scale.…”

Sexual Dysfunction and Pelvic Pain in Men: A Male Sexual Pain Disorder?

“…At least three other treatment studies have included assessment of sexual dysfunction (see Table 3). In the first study, percutanous tibial nerve stimulation was somewhat successful for pain in both men and women, but not for sexual dysfunction (van Balken, Vergunst, & Bemelmans, 2006). In the second study, Lee, West, & Wilson (2005) compared sertraline to a placebo, but the results were non-significant.…”