Sexual Symptoms (sexual + symptom)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Sexual functioning in young adult survivors of childhood cancer

PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 8 2010
Brad J. Zebrack
Abstract Background: Studies of sexuality or sexual behavior in childhood cancer survivors tend to examine relationships or achievement of developmental milestones but not physiological response to cancer or treatment. The purpose of this study is to (1) identify prevalence and risk factors for sexual dysfunction in childhood cancer survivors, and (2) examine the extent to which sexual dysfunction may be associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and psychosocial outcomes. Methods: Five hundred ninety-nine survivors age 18,39 years completed standardized measures of sexual functioning, HRQOL, psychological distress and life satisfaction. Descriptive statistics assessed prevalence of sexual symptoms. Bivariate analyses identified correlates of sexual symptoms and examined associations between symptoms and HRQOL/psychosocial outcomes. Results: Most survivors appear to be doing well, although 52% of female survivors and 32% of male survivors reported at least ,a little of a problem' in one or more areas of sexual functioning. Mean symptom score for females was more than twice that of males. Sexual symptoms were associated with reporting health problems. Significant associations between sexual functioning and HRQOL outcomes were observed, with gender differences in strengths of association suggesting that males find sexual symptoms more distressing than do females. Conclusions: While most survivors appear to be doing well in this important life domain, some young adult survivors report sexual concerns. While female survivors may report more sexual symptoms than male survivors, males may experience more distress associated with sexual difficulties. Better-specified measures of sexual function, behavior and outcomes are needed for this young adult population. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


ORIGINAL RESEARCH,EJACULATORY DISORDERS: Quantitative Sensory Testing of Peripheral Thresholds in Patients with Lifelong Premature Ejaculation: A Case-Controlled Study

THE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 6 2009
Andrea Salonia MD
ABSTRACT Introduction., The main functional factors related to lifelong premature ejaculation (PE) etiology have been suggested to be penile hypersensitivity, greater cortical penile representation, and disturbance of central serotoninergic neurotransmission. Aims., To quantitatively assess penile sensory thresholds in European Caucasian patients with lifelong PE using the Genito-Sensory Analyzer (GSA, Medoc, Ramat Yishai, Israel) as compared with those of an age-comparable sample of volunteers without any ejaculatory compliant. Methods., Forty-two consecutive right-handed, fully potent patients with lifelong PE and 41 right-handed, fully potent, age-comparable volunteers with normal ejaculatory function were enrolled. Each man was assessed via comprehensive medical and sexual history; detailed physical examination; subjective scoring of sexual symptoms with the International Index of Erectile Function; and four consecutive measurements of intravaginal ejaculatory latency time with the stopwatch method. All men completed a detailed genital sensory evaluation using the GSA; thermal and vibratory sensation thresholds were computed at the pulp of the right index finger, and lateral aspect of penile shaft and glans, bilaterally. Main Outcome Measures., Comparing quantitatively assessed penile thermal and vibratory sensory thresholds between men with lifelong PE and controls without any ejaculatory compliant. Results., Patients showed significantly higher (P < 0.001) thresholds at the right index finger but similar penile and glans thresholds for warm sensation as compared with controls. Cold sensation thresholds were not significantly different between groups at the right index finger or penile shaft, but glans thresholds for cold sensation were bilaterally significantly lower (P = 0.01) in patients. Patients showed significantly higher (all P , 0.04) vibratory sensation thresholds for right index finger, penile shaft, and glans, bilaterally, as compared with controls. Conclusions., Quantitative sensory testing analysis suggests that patients with lifelong PE might have a hypo- rather than hypersensitivity profile in terms of peripheral sensory thresholds. The peripheral neuropathophysiology of lifelong PE remains to be clarified. Salonia A, Saccà A, Briganti A, Carro UD, Dehò F, Zanni G, Rocchini L, Raber M, Guazzoni G, Rigatti P, and Montorsi F. Quantitative sensory testing of peripheral thresholds in patients with lifelong premature ejaculation: A case-controlled study. J Sex Med 2009;6:1755,1762. [source]


Urinary symptoms, quality of life and sexual function in patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy before and after prostatectomy: a prospective study

BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2003
M. Gacci
OBJECTIVE To evaluate urinary symptoms, sexual dysfunction and quality of life in patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) before and after open prostatectomy, using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), the International Continence Society (ICS)-,BPH' (ICS- male, ICS- sex and ICS- QoL) and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaires. PATIENTS AND METHODS Sixty men with BPH (mean age 68 years) underwent a digital rectal examination, transurethral ultrasonography, measurement of total prostatic specific antigen serum level and uroflowmetry. Their urinary symptoms, sexual function and quality of life were fully evaluated using the IPSS, ICS-,BPH' and IIEF before and 6 months after suprapubic prostatectomy. The body mass index (BMI) was also calculated for each patient. Univariate analysis was used to examine the relationship between symptom scores and age, tobacco use, alcohol intake and BMI. RESULTS In a univariate analysis, age was the most important prognostic factor for both urinary and sexual symptoms. Prostatectomy resulted in a significant improvement in obstructive (mean 9.68 to 3.38) and irritative symptom (6.70 to 3.06), and quality-of-life scores (3.41 to 1.34). ICS- male scores were both significantly decreased, the mean voiding score from 13.72 to 10.28 and the incontinence score from 10.43 to 7.81. There was also a significant decrease in the ICS- QoL symptom score (from 9.20 to 7.27). Comparative results between IIEF and ICS- sex showed no improvement in sexual scores after open surgery, but there was a significant increase in sexual desire and overall satisfaction (both P = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS The combined use of the IPSS, ICS-,BPH' and IIEF allows an evaluation of the relationship between age, prostatic symptoms and sexual dysfunction. Age may be considered both a direct and indirect (BPH-related) prognostic factor for sexual activity. Suprapubic prostatectomy resolves obstructive symptoms, and maintains sexual desire, overall sexual satisfaction and an improvement in quality of life. However, irritative symptoms, erection, orgasm and sexual intercourse satisfaction are not significantly altered. [source]