012 Peyronie’s Disease and the Female Sexual Partner: A Comparison of the Male and Female Experience

Abstract

Peyronie’s disease (PD) is characterized by penile pain, deformity, and sexual dysfunction, often resulting in significant psychological bother for the patient. However, there is limited data on the impact of PD on the sexual function of female sexual partners (FSP). To compare the experience of men with PD and FSP. We reviewed data on all men and their FSP presenting for initial PD evaluation to our sexual health clinic from 7/2018-5/2019. All men completed a detailed PD-specific survey and the Peyronie’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ). If the patient was accompanied by a FSP at the time of initial evaluation, she was asked to complete the Peyronie’s Disease Questionnaire for Female Sexual Partners (PDQ-FSP) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). We queried our database that included information on patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and survey responses for the patient and FSP. Data was available for 28 men with PD (median age of 54 years; range 38-67 years) and their FSPs (median age of 55 years; range 49-62 years). The majority of men presented in the chronic phase (21/28, 75.0%) and a median PD duration of 12 months (range 2-180 months). Penile shortening was reported in 71.4% (20/28) with median subjective length loss of 2.5 cm (range 1-10 cm). Patient reported erectile dysfunction associated with PD was present in 46.4% (13/28). Median objective composite curvature was 80° (range 25-150°). Hinge effect or penile instability was identified in 60.7% (17/28). Compared to FSFI population-based norms, 27.8% of FSP had sexual dysfunction. Due to PD, female and male partners reported similar difficulty with vaginal intercourse (82.6% vs. 85.7%, p=1.000), decreased frequency of vaginal intercourse (72.7% vs. 85.7%, p=0.441), and at least moderate discomfort/pain with vaginal intercourse (43.5% vs. 30.8%, p=0.501). FSP reported that that they were “very” or “extremely” bothered by the appearance of their partner’s erect penis less often than male partners (17.4% vs. 64.3%, p=0.009). FSP also reported that they were “very” or “extremely” bothered by their partner’s PD during vaginal intercourse less often than men with PD (27.3% vs. 61.5%, p=0.046). Similar proportions of FSP expressed “none/mild” concern with damaging their partner’s penis during vaginal intercourse as “moderate” and “severe/very severe” concern (34.8% vs. 34.8% vs. 30.4%). There was no association between hinge effect or worsening composite penile curvature and FSP bother with erect penile appearance, difficulty with vaginal intercourse, bother by partner’s PD during vaginal intercourse, decreased frequency of vaginal intercourse due to PD, discomfort with vaginal intercourse due to PD, and concern for damaging the male partner’s penis during vaginal intercourse (p>0.05).