The Impact of Deep Brain Stimulation on the Sexual Function of Patients With Parkinson's Disease

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is used in the treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) with well-established benefits over motor complications. However, few studies addressing the impact of DBS on nonmotor dimensions such as sexual function have been conducted. This study aims to determine the effect of DBS-STN on the sexual activity of patients with PD and to establish predictive factors for sexual function decline after surgery.

Twenty-one patients with PD submitted to DBS-STN were compared with 19 eligible surgery candidates. Clinical measures included disease progression (Hoehn and Yahr scale), sexual function evaluation (Female Sexual Function Index and International Index of Erectile Function), severity of depressive symptoms (Beck Depressive Inventory-II), motor symptoms (Movement Disorders Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III), and quality of life (39-item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire). The primary outcomes were the development of sexual dysfunction in women and erectile dysfunction in men. Regression analysis was performed to outline risk factors for developing sexual function deterioration.

Erectile dysfunction was present in 83.3% of men and sexual dysfunction in 77.8% of women treated with DBS-STN. Women with sexual dysfunction had higher emotional well-being 39-item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire scores (P=0.017) and a higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (P=0.012) comparing with women without sexual dysfunction. Age was an independent predictive factor for developing erectile dysfunction in men (relative risk=1.26; P=0.033) and sexual dysfunction in women (relative risk =1.30; P=0.039), regardless of DBS-STN submission.

Sexual function in both sexes of patients with PD does not seem to be influenced by DBS-STN itself, but by psychological and clinical features.