Introduction:
Infertility is a complex life challenge affecting both members of a couple resulting in: stress, anxiety, diminishing self-esteem and even sexual dysfunction regardless of its etiology. Since the link between infertility and sexual disorders is not yet exactly determined studies assessing this connection may lead to possible ways of prevention. There are several ways of erectile dysfunction assessment, but most effective and least invasive method is the application of validated international questionnaires. The aim of the present pilot study was to analyze the effect of diagnosis of infertility on sexual function of couples.
Methods:
Questionnaires of IIEF-15 (international index of erectile function) and FSFI (female sexual function index) were given to couples visiting andrology outpatient clinic due to infertility before providing the result of sperm analysis and 3 months later as well. IIEF domain score values and sexual encounter profile score were compared applying t-test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results:
Fifteen patients have been followed up during three months with sperm parameters below the lower reference range of the WHO 5. Mean age of the patients was 36 years (30-46). Mean value of the IIEF erectile function domain scores was 28.4 (22-30). One patient was in the mild erectile dysfunction (ED) range. Two patients had azoospermia, mean sperm parameters were the followings: sperm concentration 16.81 M/ml (0-65), progressive motility 10.23% (0-35, excluding azoospermic patients), total motility 44.77 % (0-80, excluding azoospermic patients), vitality 73.85% (0-99, excluding azoospermic patients), normal morphology 2.77% (0-8, excluding azoospermic patients). Three month after setting up the diagnosis of male affected infertility the IIEF EF ds values were significantly lower (mean 27.4, p=0.025). There wasn’t any significant change in the values of the FSFI scores.
Conclusions:
Diagnosis of male associated infertility has a negative impact on male sexual health. Therefore routine assessment of sexual function during the evaluation and treatment of infertility is recommended.