Sexuality and end-stage renal disease: research and clinical recommendations

Available studies of sexuality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients are critically reviewed under three headings: (1) descriptive studies of dialysis patients, (2) intervention studies with dialysis patients, and (3) descriptive studies of renal transplant recipients. These studies suggest the presence of significant sexual deficits in uremic (predialysis) and dialysis patients that are only partially alleviated by transplantation or other medical interventions. There are no systematic evaluations of nonmedical interventions for sexual problems in ESRD patients. Most of the research has adopted a reductionist model of sexual behavior and suffers from poor methodology, unstandardized and incomplete measurement of sexual behavior, limited sample sizes, unrepresentative populations, an overemphasis on erectile problems, and a lack of attention to female sexuality. A holistic, biopsychosocial approach is recommended to guide further research and clinical work in this area.