Overactive Bladder Is Associated with Erectile Dysfunction and Reduced Sexual Quality of Life in Men

Abstract

Introduction The prevalence of sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction (ED), is greater in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), including overactive bladder (OAB), than in men without LUTS. Aim To evaluate the prevalence of ED, the impact of urinary symptoms on sexual activity and sexual enjoyment, and sexual satisfaction in men with OAB. Methods A nested case-control analysis was performed on data from a subset of men with (cases) and without (controls) OAB frequency-matched for age (5-year age strata) and country from the EPIC study. Respondents were asked about OAB symptoms (using the 2002 International Continence Society [ICS] definitions) and sexual activity. Sexually active respondents were asked about ED, sexual enjoyment, and overall satisfaction with their sex lives. Conditional logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with ED. Main Outcome Measures The percentage of cases and controls reporting ED, a reduction in the frequency of sexual activity or enjoyment of sexual activity because of urinary symptoms, and overall satisfaction with their sex lives was determined for cases and controls. Results A total of 502 cases and 502 controls were matched for age strata and country. Significantly more cases (14%) reported reduced sexual activity because of urinary symptoms compared with controls (4%; P ≤ 0.05). Among sexually active respondents, cases were significantly more likely to have ED than were controls (prevalence odds ratio, 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–2.2); the prevalence of ED was similar to that for men with hypertension or diabetes. Significantly more cases (15%) reported decreased enjoyment of sexual activity because of urinary symptoms relative to controls (2%; P ≤ 0.05), and significantly fewer cases were satisfied with their sex lives (81% vs. 90%; P ≤ 0.05). Conclusion OAB, as defined by the ICS, was significantly associated with increased prevalence of ED, reduced sexual activity and sexual enjoyment because of urinary symptoms, and reduced sexual satisfaction.

Overactive bladder in men: initial assessment

“…6 There are no proven risk factors for OAB, but there are significant associations (in spite of adjustment for social confounders such as age, gender and country) with other chronic conditions such as depression, erectile dysfunction, constipation and neurological disorders. 7 Storage LUTS have been associated with depression, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, recurrent UTIs, elevated body mass index and childhood nocturnal enuresis, and may increase the prevalence of falls, fractures and skin infections. 8,9 IMPACT OF OAB Patients with OAB have a considerably lower quality of life, work productivity, sexual satisfaction and quality of sleep; they also have higher rates of depression, and slightly poorer overall health.…”

Guías EAU sobre incontinencia urinaria

“…Aumenta con la edad y, con frecuencia, aparece con otros SVUI. Varias afecciones crónicas comunes, tales como depresión, estreñimiento, trastornos neurológicos y disfunción eréctil se han asociado de manera significativa a VHA, incluso después de ajustar respecto a covariables importantes, como la edad, el sexo y el país 14 .…”

Gender Differences in Coping Strategies for Troublesome Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Prior to Seeking Treatment

“…However, the focus began to change to both genders after the standardization of terminology of lower urinary function which was approved by the International Continence Society (ICS) in 2002 [3]. In the past two decades, population surveys have not only focused on stress urinary incontinence (SUI) but also on overactive bladder (OAB) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in both sexes [4][5][6][7][8][9]. These LUTS have become a large economic burden on health care services and affected health-related quality of life in both sexes [10,11].…”