Sexual health in women with Parkinson’s disease: Motor, non-motor, and social impacts

Abstract

Background: Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a common non-motor symptom (NMS) in people with Parkinson disease (PwPD). Sexual health (SH) depends on several biological, mental, and social factors that PD may affect. Despite its prevalence and relevance for quality of life, SD in women with Parkinson disease (WwPD) is poorly understood, and research in this area is scarce. Objectives: To investigate the impact of motor, non-motor, and social aspects on the SH of WwPD. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 100 women (mean age 54.45 sd 8.31, mean H&Y stage 1.70 sd 0.71). The following data were collected for each person (used tests/scales indicated within parentheses and defined in Glossary): (1) demographic information and global cognitive capacity (T-MoCA); (2) non-motor aspects of daily life experiences (MDS-UPDRS, part I); (3) motor aspects of daily life experiences (MDS-UPDRS, part II); (4) fatigue (FSS); (5) self-esteem (RSES); (6) sleep disorder (PDSS); (7) couple relationship quality (CRQ) (DAS); (8) depressive signals (BDI); (8) short-term sexual health (FSFI); and (9) long-term sexual health (SQ-F). Results: Our results suggest that depressive symptoms, preserved cognitive status, and CRQ are predictive factors in the sexual health of WwPD. Age, disease onset, duration, postmenopausal, Levodopa dosage, motor disability, and fatigue were not correlated with SH. Conclusion: Our findings emphasize the need to assess the sexual functioning of WwPD to investigate which motor, non-motor, and social aspects may be involved in SD so that measures can be implemented in clinical practice.