Cross-sectional study of male sexual function in bariatric patients

Obesity is associated with numerous comorbidities and affects various aspects of life, including sexual functioning. Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for obese people. Male sexual function after bariatric surgery is not well known.

To compare male sexual function and sexual quality of life after surgical weight loss with controls seeking bariatric surgery.

International Index of Erectile Function and Sexual Quality of Life-Male (SQoL-M) questionnaires were administered by e-mail to 152 men who had undergone weight-loss surgery. The control group consisted of 44 obese men who completed the questionnaires during their preoperative evaluation.

Fifty-six percent of men in the control group and 20% of men in the postoperative group reported erectile dysfunction (ED) (OR = 5.1; 95% CI: 1.6-16.0, p = 0.005). The median (Q1, Q3) total International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) score did not show a significant difference between the control (62.0 (37.5, 66.5)) and postoperative groups (67.0 (57.0, 70.0)). However, median scores in domains of erectile function (EF), sexual desire (SD), and overall satisfaction (OS) were significantly higher in the postoperative group. The median SQoL-M was significantly higher (81.8 (51.5, 89.4) vs. 88.6 (84.8, 90.9); p < 0.05) in the postoperative group.

A lower prevalence of erectile dysfunction and better sexual quality of life were observed in the patients after surgical weight loss. The improvement in male sexual function may be considered as an advantage of bariatric surgery.