Sexual function and pelvic floor function in men with systemic sclerosis compared to healthy controls: a cross-sectional study

Objectives This cross-sectional study aimed to compare the sexual function (SF) and pelvic floor function of men with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with age-matched healthy controls (HC) and to identify the implications of clinical features on SF.Material and method Twenty SSc males and 20 HC aged 18–70 ...

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Main Authors: Barbora Heřmánková, Sabína Oreská, Maja Špiritović, Hana Štorkánová, Martin Komarc, Karel Pavelka, Ladislav Šenolt, Jiří Vencovský, Radim Bečvář, Michal Tomčík
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:The Aging Male
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/13685538.2024.2336630
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Summary:Objectives This cross-sectional study aimed to compare the sexual function (SF) and pelvic floor function of men with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with age-matched healthy controls (HC) and to identify the implications of clinical features on SF.Material and method Twenty SSc males and 20 HC aged 18–70 years completed eleven questionnaires assessing SF [International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), Male Sexual Health Questionnaire (MSHQ)]; sexual quality of life: Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire-Male (SQoL-M); pelvic floor function: Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-Short Form 7 (PFIQ-7), fatigue, depression, physical fitness, functional disability, and quality of life. Clinical data were collected.Results Significantly worse SF was observed in patients (median IIEF erectile function 12 in SSc versus 29 in HC, p < 0.001), with 70% reporting erectile dysfunction (ED) compared to 15% in HC. However, no significant difference was observed regarding pelvic floor function (median PFIQ7 8.8 in SSc versus 7.0 in HC, p = 0.141). Impaired SF was associated with higher disease activity, increased systemic inflammation, more pronounced fatigue, reduced physical fitness, severe depression, impaired overall quality of life, dyspepsia, and arthralgias (p < 0.05 for all).Conclusions Sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent in our SSc patients, whereas pelvic floor dysfunction is unlikely to be associated with these problems.
ISSN:1368-5538
1473-0790