Sexual functioning in patients with lower urinary tract dysfunction improves after percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the effect of lower urinary tract dysfunction and its neuromodulative therapy on sexual functioning. We studied 121 patients with an overactive bladder (OAB) (N = 83), chronic pelvic pain (N = 23) and nonobstructive retention (N = 15), which were treated with neuromodulation (i.e. percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation, PTNS). To obtain information on their sexual function, a self-administered standardized questionnaire was filled out before therapy as well as after 12 weeks of treatment. Before therapy, different aspects of sexual life were considered not normal in 25.3-45.6% of the cases. This improved significantly after treatment. Patients most likely to benefit were women, patients with an OAB and subjective responders. The aspects of sexual life which mostly improved were overall satisfaction, libido and the frequency of sexual activities. Sexual dysfunction is observed in a lot of patients with lower urinary tract disorders and may improve on successful therapy for the latter.