Sexual Disorders and Quality of Life in Parkinson's Disease

Sexual disorders are the most neglected nonmotor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). Although doctors seek greater priority to motor manifestations, which are the basis for the diagnosis of PD, the nonmotor symptoms deserve to be highlighted as much as the motor problems because of their strong presence and discomfort in the patients, causing the important impairment in the quality of life (QoL) of the individual with PD.

Provide the prevalence of sexual disorders among patients with PD and alert the medical profession to investigate and be familiar with problems related to QoL and sexual disorders in PD.

This is a large literature review on sexual disorders in PD and impaired QoL.

Sexual disorders in PD and prevalence between genders have been described in epidemiological studies. Neuroanatomy, pathophysiology, risk factors, QoL, and etiologies were reviewed.

The estimate of the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in the form of compulsive sexual behavior in PD is higher in men by 5.2% than in women by 0.5%. This diagnosis is a determinant of intense and persistent suffering and is related to several health problems of a social, economic, personal, family, psychological, and occupational nature, which can even culminate in sexual abuse. It is most commonly associated with the use of drugs commonly used in PD therapy in 98.1% of cases. In addition to this serious public health problem, another common condition of sexual dysfunction occur with the decreased libido by loss of the neurotransmitter dopamine proper of the pathophysiology of PD.

The presence of sexual disorders in PD should be tracked and monitored because of its harmful consequences, whether due to increased sexual behavior or associated psychological distress, as well as the impacts on QoL. Early recognition and adequate treatment of PD in its fullness and richness of associated symptoms are essential for improving QoL. Santa Rosa Malcher CM, Roberto da Silva Gonçalves Oliveira K, Fernandes Caldato MC, et al. Sexual Disorders and Quality of Life in Parkinson's Disease. Sex Med 2021;9:100280.