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Introduction Sexual fear is a known cause for avoidance of intercourse, especially in patients with chronic conditions. Aim Given the significant impact of fear of intercourse on the quality of life, we herein report our pilot results regarding the differences in the demographic, clinical, marital, and psychological characteristics of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with and without sexual fear. Methods In this cross-sectional study conducted in Baqyiatallah Hospital, Tehran, Iran, in 2006, 87 married CAD patients were assessed for the presence of sexual fear. Subjects with and without sexual fear were compared for demographic and clinical data as well as for Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Revised-Dyadic Adjustment Scale (R-DAS) scores. Main Outcome Measure Demographic and clinical data, sexual fear (Relationship and Sexuality Scale), symptoms of anxiety and depression (HADS), and marital relation quality (R-DAS). Results Twenty-nine subjects were reported to have some degrees of fear of sexual intercourse and a lower frequency of sexual intercourse. Age, socioeconomic status, education level, tobacco smoking, and history of myocardial infarction were significantly different between those with and the ones without sexual fear. Body mass index, extent of coronary involvement, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, stroke, hyperlipidemia, history of diabetes, and the use of beta-blockers were not statistically different in the two groups. The subjects with sexual fear reported higher HADS depressive and R-DAS scores but not higher HADS anxiety scores. Conclusion Among different nonmodifiable and modifiable correlates of fear of sexual intercourse in CAD patients, marital relationship and depressive symptoms should be highlighted in future interventional studies with the aim of allaying such fears.

Introduction Subjective health perceptions affect sexual function differently in males and females; such differences, however, have not hitherto been studied comprehensively in kidney-transplant recipients. Aim This study sought to investigate gender effect on the correlation between sexual function and quality-of-life (QOL) subdomains in kidney-transplant recipients by evaluating intercourse frequency (IF) and intercourse satisfaction (IS). Methods In a cross-sectional study, 124 married kidney-transplant recipients, who were randomly selected, were interviewed. The bivariate correlations between QOL subdomains, and IF and IS were analyzed with the Pearson test in the males and females, separately. Main Outcome Measure The IF and IS using the relationship and sexuality scale, and also the QOL using Short Form 36 (SF-36) were assessed. Results Sixty-seven subjects (54%) reported having no intercourse within the preceding months. Fifty subjects (40%) reported having no intercourse satisfaction. While IF and IS correlated with the total SF-36 score in the males (r =0.252 and 0.263, P <0.05), there was no such correlation in the females. In the males, IS correlated with physical health (r =0.281, P <0.05) and physical function (r =0.274, P <0.05), and there was a correlation between IF and role limitation due to emotional problems (r =0.250, P <0.05). In the females, whereas IF correlated with general health (r =0.372, P <0.05) and mental health (r =0.305, P <0.05), there was no correlation between IS and QOL subdomains (P  > 0.05). Conclusion Sexual function and satisfaction seem to be correlated with mental and physical health in female and male kidney-transplant recipients, respectively. Although in the two genders, both physical and mental health should be equally evaluated; improving of the sexual function may be better achieved through different approaches.

Introduction For all the studies into the sexual health of kidney transplant recipients, there is a paucity of controlled studies regarding the difference in the sexual relationship of kidney transplant recipients and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients under hemodialysis. Aim We compared the sexual function of kidney transplant recipients and ESRD patients under hemodialysis in male patients. Main Outcome Measures The patients’ sexual function was assessed using the Relationship and Sexuality Scale. Method In this case-controlled study, 89 male renal transplant recipients and 25 male hemodialysis patients were randomly selected from the outpatient clinic of Baqiyatallah Hospital, Tehran, Iran, in 2006. The two groups were not significantly different in terms of age, living place, level of education, duration of ESRD (months), ESRD cause, and somatic comorbidities (Ifudu index). Results The renal transplant patients in comparison with the hemodialysis group reported a better overall sexual relationship (17.3 ± 0.6 vs. 21.6 ± 1.4; P = 0.001), and all subscales including sexual function (9.9 ± 0.3 vs. 11.4 ± 0.6; P = 0.03), sexual frequency (6.3 ± 0.3 vs. 7.4 ± 0.6; P = 0.04), and sexual fear (1.1 ± 0.2 vs. 2.8 ± 0.5; P = 0.001). In addition, kidney recipients had significantly more sexual intercourse in a 2-week period prior to the study (P = 0.008). Conclusions In our male population, kidney transplant recipients, in comparison with the ESRD patients under hemodialysis, reported a better sexual relationship.