Sexual dysfunctions of rheumatological patients are a neglected issue: Results from a national survey of Italian Society of Rheumatology


https://doi.org/10.4081/aiua.2023.11337
Vol. 95 No. 2 (2023)
Published: May 29, 2023
Sexual dysfunction, Rheumatology, Barrier, Rheumatological disorders
Abstract Views: 506
PDF: 259
Supplementary material: 15
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Authors

  • Luigi Napolitano Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2036-0356
  • Ilenia Pantano Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.
  • Lorenzo Romano
    loryromano@hotmail.it
    Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6581-7930
  • Luigi Cirillo Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1677-6765
  • Celeste Manfredi Unit of Urology, Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9706-8516
  • Francesco Matrangelo Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
  • Giovanni Maria Fusco Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
  • Daniele Mauro Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.
  • Lorenzo Spirito Unit of Urology, Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.
  • Roberto La Rocca Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
  • Davide Arcaniolo Unit of Urology, Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.
  • Corrado Aniello Franzese ASL Napoli 3 Sud, Naples, Italy.
  • Carmine Sciorio Urology Unit, Ospedale Alessandro Manzoni, Lecco, Italy.
  • Marco Romano Department of Precision Medicine and Hepatogastroenterology Unit, AOU University Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy.
  • Marco De Sio Unit of Urology, Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.
  • Vincenzo Mirone Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
  • Francesco Ciccia Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.

Introduction: Sexual dysfunctions (SD) are frequently encountered in patients with rheumatologic diseases. In this scenario, a multidisciplinary approach to rheumatologic diseases is often mandatory. The aim of this survey was to assess whether Italian rheumatologists routinely explore sexual health of their patients, their knowledge on the topic, and the barriers to discussing SD in clinical practice. Methods: A 32-items anonymous questionnaire was mailed to members of the Italian Society of Rheumatology (rheumatologists and residents in rheumatology training) in February 2023. The questionnaire aimed to determine attitudes, knowledge, and practice patterns regarding the discussion of SD with rheumatologic patients. A descriptive analysis of responses was performed. Results: A total of 162 responses were received. Overall, 50.0% of respondents occasionally asked patients about SD related to their rheumatologic pathologies, while 37.1% never did so. Respondents declared that patients occasionally (82.3%) or never (16.1%) reported SD related to rheumatologic diseases. The main barriers to discussing sexual health were lack of time during medical examination (46.6%), patients’ discomfort (44.8%), and lack of knowledge/experience (39.7%). Overall, 41.9% and 33.9% of respondents respectively totally and partially agreed that rheumatologists should routinely investigate patients' sexual health. Most of the respondents (79.0%) thought that discussing sexual health problems could help patients cope with their rheumatologic diseases. Of all respondents, 74.2% felt the need to broaden their personal knowledge about SD. Finally, 45.9% and 34.4% of respondents respectively partially and totally agreed that training courses for rheumatologists could be helpful in the management of sexual health in rheumatological patients. Conclusions: SD was not routinely discussed in rheumatology practice, still remaining a neglected issue. The most frequent explanations for the lack of attention toward SD were lack of time, patients’ discomfort, and lack of knowledge/experience. Most of the respondents expressed the possible usefulness of attending SD courses to improve knowledge about these conditions.


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Napolitano, L., Pantano, I., Romano, L., Cirillo, L., Manfredi, C., Matrangelo, F., Fusco, G. M., Mauro, D., Spirito, L., La Rocca, R., Arcaniolo, D., Franzese, C. A., Sciorio, C., Romano, M., De Sio, M., Mirone, V., & Ciccia, F. (2023). Sexual dysfunctions of rheumatological patients are a neglected issue: Results from a national survey of Italian Society of Rheumatology. Archivio Italiano Di Urologia E Andrologia, 95(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/aiua.2023.11337

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