[Heart transplantation and sexuality. A study of 62 male patients]

119 adult male Austrian patients who had undergone heart transplantation between January 1985 and December 1990 were questioned on sexual functional disorders pre- and postoperatively. Questions dealt with perceived medication effects on sexual function and libido, fear of intercourse, their worries about the sexual habits of the donor, perceived changes in sexual attractiveness and body image. They were also asked how they felt about discussing sexual matters with their doctors. 62 patients returned fully completed questionnaires. 75% of the patients were more than 45 years old (45 to 67 years). Heart transplantation had been carried out at least once longest seven years before. The patients reported a significant postoperative increase of libido accompanied by a significant decrease of physical complaints at intercourse. Problems with potency (impaired erectile rigidity) persisted, however, (Table 4, Figure 1). 23% of the patients reported that since transplantation sexuality had become a problem for them. 42% wanted to undergo treatment if available. 29% stated that sexual matters had clearly improved. 31% suspected that medication adversely affected sexual functioning, and 23% stated that in their opinion it contributed to a lowered libido. 15% felt themselves much more sexually attractive after they had undergone surgery, and 13% were considered more sexually attractive by their spouses. Only four patients reported avoiding intercourse for health reasons. One patient confirmed that he was fantasizing about the sexual habits of the unknown donor of his heart. It seems that physicians often neglect to talk about sexual matters with their heart transplant patients, though the patients consider it a very important topic (Figure 2).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)