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Sexual needs and sexual function of patients with Parkinson’s disease

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Abstract

Background

Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a frequent non-motor symptom in Parkinson’s disease (PD) that is rarely addressed, and sexual counseling is sporadic.

Objectives

To investigate PD patients’ SD and sexual counseling motivation and to propose an interventional strategy for movement disorder specialists.

Methods

All consecutive PD patients who presented to a movement disorder unit between 2018 and 2019 completed anonymous questionnaires containing the Female Sexual Function Index, the International Index of Erectile Function, and a questionnaire on sexual needs and motivation to receive sexual counseling.

Results

The age range of the 100 recruited patients (78 men) was 40–80 years, and the mean disease duration was 8.64 ± 6.84 years. SD appeared at all PD stages. The presence of SD pre-PD diagnosis significantly predicted SD post-diagnosis in men. Erectile dysfunction was the most common male SD (70%). Women reported frequent SD before PD diagnosis and currently. More than half of the responders (74% of the men and 40% of the women) were motivated to receive sexual counseling. Most of them (77.4%) were in a relationship.

Conclusions

The findings of this analysis revealed that most PD patients had experienced SD before being diagnosed with PD and were interested in receiving sexual counseling. We propose a six-step intervention strategy for the management of SD in PD designed for application in a movement disorder unit. We also recommend that neurologists and other healthcare providers undergo training to provide basic sexual counseling tailored to the needs of PD patients.

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Acknowledgements

We thank our patients for their kind cooperation and Ms. Esther Eshkol for the superb editorial assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sex Therapy Service, Lis Maternity and Women’s Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, 6 Weizman Street, 6423906, Tel-Aviv, Israel

    G. Bronner

  2. Movement Disorders Unit, Neurological Institute, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel, Tel Aviv, Israel

    G. Bronner, S. Peleg-Nesher, Y. Manor, S. Naor, T. Taichman, A. Ezra & T. Gurevich

  3. Sex Counseling Clinic, Oncology Institute, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel

    S. Peleg-Nesher

  4. Communication Sciences and Disorders Department, Faculty of Health Professions, Ono Academic College, Kiryat Ono, Israel

    Y. Manor

  5. School of Public Health, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

    A. Rosenberg

  6. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

    A. Rosenberg & T. Gurevich

Authors
  1. G. Bronner
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  2. S. Peleg-Nesher
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  3. Y. Manor
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  4. A. Rosenberg
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  5. S. Naor
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  6. T. Taichman
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  7. A. Ezra
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  8. T. Gurevich
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Contributions

1) Research project: A. Conception, B. Organization, C. Execution.

2) Statistical analysis: A. Design, B. Execution, C. Review and critique.

3) Manuscript: A. Writing of the first draft, B. Review and critique.

BG: 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B

PNS: 1A, 1B, 1C, 3B

MY: 1A, 1B, 1C, 2C, 3B

RA: 1A, 1B, 1C, 2C

NS: 1B, 1C

TT: 1B, 1C

EA: 1B,1C

GT: 1A, 1B, 1C, 2C, 3B

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. Bronner.

Ethics declarations

Ethical approval

(1) This study was approved by the ethics committee of the Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel, approval no. Helsinki TLV#220–16.

(2) All study details and concepts were clearly explained verbally to the patients before they signed an informed consent, after which they received an envelope containing the anonymous study questionnaires.

(3) We confirm that all authors have read the journal’s position on issues involved in ethical publication and affirm that this work is consistent with those guidelines.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Bronner, G., Peleg-Nesher, S., Manor, Y. et al. Sexual needs and sexual function of patients with Parkinson’s disease. Neurol Sci 44, 539–546 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-022-06467-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-022-06467-0

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