Open Access

ARTICLE

Sexual dysfunction in patients with painful bladder syndrome is age related and progressive

Stanley Zaslau, Dale R. Riggs, Adam E. Perlmutter, Barbara J. Jackson, Jill Osborne, Stanley J. Kandzari

Division of Urology, Robert C. Byrd Health Science Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
Address correspondence to Dr. Stanley Zaslau, Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Robert C. Byrd Health Science Center, West Virginia University, PO Box 9251, Morgantown WV 26505-9238 USA

Canadian Journal of Urology 2008, 15(4), 4158-4162.

Abstract

Introduction/objective: The degree of sexual dysfunction in patients with painful bladder syndrome (PBS) across their lifespan has not been previously documented.
Material and methods: The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) is a research tool to measure the degree of clinical female sexual dysfunction (FSD). This 19-item questionnaire evaluates FSD in six domains: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. This study used the FSFI with the additional variables of age, geographical location, and current medications. The participants were not blinded to the fact that this study was examining the link between PBS and FSD. Each question in the survey was targeted to a specific variable of FSD and the answers were rated on a Likert scale.
Results: When compared with controls, PBS patients self-report significant sexual dysfunction in all domains evaluated by the FSFI (p < 0.001). Age-specific results were observed in regards to the domains of arousal, lubrication, and pain (p < 0.01).
Conclusions: PBS patients report significant FSD in all domains when compared to controls (p < 0.001). Significant differences in the domains of arousal, lubrication, and pain exist between respondents < 30 years old and in those > 50 years of age. The extent of sexual dysfunction is worse in the areas of pain in each age group evaluated. Pain is the most significant finding in patients with FSD and PBS.

---

Keywords

---