Women's Sexual Function Improves When Partners are Administered Vardenafil for Erectile Dysfunction: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Abstract

Introduction There are limited data concerning the sexual function of women whose male partners receive pharmacological treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED). Aim One objective of this research was to prospectively compare the efficacy of vardenafil vs. placebo administered to men with ED in improving men's and women partners’ sexual function and satisfaction. Another goal was to assess the relationship of erectile function changes in men with ED receiving treatment with sexual function changes in women partners not directly receiving treatment. Methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-institutional comparison of vardenafil vs. placebo was performed in 229 couples (treated man with ED >6 months and untreated woman partner). Co-primary outcomes for which this research was statistically powered were Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP3) (treated man with ED) and Sexual Life Quality Questionnaire (mSLQQ-QOL) (untreated woman partner). Main Outcome Measures Erectile function changes in men with ED receiving vardenafil vs. placebo were compared at last observation carried forward (LOCF) in SEP3, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-EF) and Erection Quality Scale (EQS). Sexual function at LOCF in women partners was determined by mSLQQ-QOL and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Results Compared with placebo at LOCF, vardenafil significantly increased least square (LS) mean scores in: (i) overall per-treated male SEP3 success rate, IIEF-EF, and EQS; and (ii) mSLQQ-QOL, total FSFI and sexual desire, subjective arousal, lubrication, orgasm and satisfaction FSFI domains in untreated women partners. Treatment-related improvement in erectile function as assessed by IIEF-EF and EQS was correlated reliably with improvement in women partners’ FSFI total and individual domain scores. Conclusions Vardenafil is an effective ED treatment in men that also significantly improves sexual function/satisfaction in untreated women partners. Women partners’ sexual function improvements relate significantly and consistently to treatment-related improvements in men's erectile function. ED management should emphasize both members of the couple.

Sexual dysfunction in partners of men with premature ejaculation

“…Indeed, a study assessing the impact of successful treatment of PE on the partners sexual dysfunction would be very interesting, and hopefully as successful as seen in treating women's sexual dysfunction when treating the man for his ED. 14,[16][17][18][19][20] The results of the PEP-SI, SQOL and SRS indicate that the partners of men with PE have higher rates of negative emotional impact and dissatisfaction with sex. In addition, the female partners of men with PE demonstrate a lower perception of sexual quality of life and a poorer sexual relationship with their partners than the control group.…”

“…However, lending support to the theory that a woman's sexual difficulties can be contingent on her partners are a number of studies showing that the sexual functioning of women with partners who have ED improved significantly when the man's ED was treated with a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i) 16 and, specifically, with sildenafil 14,17,18 or vardenafil. 19 Althof et al 20 reported improvements in women's sexual function when her partner's ED was treated with selfinjection or vacuum therapy, and Cayan et al 14 reported the same with ED treatment of penile prosthesis implantation.…”

Testosterone and Erectile Function: From Basic Research to a New Clinical Paradigm for Managing Men with Androgen Insufficiency and Erectile Dysfunction

“…A partner's sexual health can be affected by the patient's sexual dysfunction [130][131][132][133][134]. Thus, an essential component in the management of androgen insufficiency and ED is patient and partner education that is uniquely matched to individual needs [4].…”

An investigation of sexual dysfunction in female partners of men with erectile dysfunction: how interviews expand on questionnaire responses

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Treatment of men with ED with oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i) has also been reported to have positive benefits for their female partners. [9][10][11][12] Most of these studies have relied on standardized sexual function (for example, Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI)) 13 and treatment satisfaction questionnaires. [14][15][16] Women with FSFI scores concomitant with sexual dysfunction (o26.5) were excluded from some studies because of the potential of such 'dysfunction' to have a negative impact on the effect of men's ED treatments on the couples.…”

“…In studies employing the FSFI, domains in which improvement has been reported include arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and overall scores. 11,16,17 Although the 16 both reported improvements in women's levels of pain once their partner's ED was treated. The findings from the FEMALES study may have been influenced by it being retrospective and excluding women reporting pain at baseline.…”