14 research outputs found
The prevalence of sexual behavior disorders in patients with treated and untreated gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Abstract
Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
is a chronic disease. Sexual behavior is often altered in
chronic illness. The aim of this study was to evaluate
sexual behavior in patients affected with GERD before
and after medical or surgical treatment in comparison to
healthy controls (HC).
Methods: Upper GI endoscopy and 24-h ambulatory pH
testing were performed to confirm GERD in symptomatic
patients. GERD patients completed an anonymous
questionnaire on sexual life before and after
medical or surgical treatment.
Results: Compared with HC, untreated patients with
GERD showed more frequent difficulty in attaining
orgasm and painful intercourse. GERD patients after
surgical treatment had significantly more difficulty in
attaining orgasm, while after continuous medical treatment
GERD patients compared with HC had significantly
more difficulty in attaining orgasm, higher painful
intercourse, lower sexual desire, and perceived more
frequently that the partner was unhelpful. When compared
with untreated conditions, GERD patients after
surgical treatment had a significant improvement in
attaining orgasm and in painful intercourse but a significant
decrease in sexual desire, a lower satisfaction
with their sexual life, and a higher prevalence of an
unhelpful partner, whereas GERD patients after medical
treatment had a decrease in all indices of sexual
behavior.
Conclusion: Untreated GERD is associated with disorders
in sexual behavior. Compared with HC, only the
surgical group partially improved after treatment