Sympathetic skin response recorded from the genital region in normal and diabetic women

Abstract

Aim of the study. – An electrophysiological technique assessing the sympathetic skin activity related to sudomotor function from the genital skin has been described previously in normal adult man. The problems of the genitourinary tracts and the sexual disorders are difficult to analyse in women. In this paper, a method for recording the genital sympathetic skin responses (g-SSR) has been described in normal women and the objective changes were demonstrated in female patients with diabetes mellitus. Material and method. – Our study comprised 20 healthy adult women (mean age 42.5 years) and 20 diabetic women (mean age 52.8 years). We examined both left hand sympathetic skin responses (SSR) and genital region SSR by electrophysiological methods. Superficial Ag–AgCl electrodes were placed on perineum in front of the anal sphincter and 1–1.5 cm lateral to right labia majora for recording after the stimulation of the right median nerve. All g-SSRs from both recording sites were analysed, latency and amplitudes were compared in normal subjects and patients. Results. – It has been clearly demonstrated that the g-SSR is easily obtained from all normal female subjects in labia majora-perineum montage. In seven of 20 diabetic patients g-SSR could not be elicited. Mean amplitude was significantly reduced in diabetic group according to normal subjects ( P < 0.05). Conclusion. – It was concluded that the method described in this study is easily applied and objectively evaluated for the female patients with genitourinary and sexual problems.