The female partner's satisfaction with sildenafil citrate treatment of erectile dysfunction.
BACKGROUND
Data on female partners' satisfaction are scarce, although there have been many articles on patient satisfaction after sildenafil citrate treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the satisfaction of female partners of patients receiving sildenafil citrate for their erectile dysfunction (ED) and to assess the female partners' sexual function.


METHODS
Ninety-eight patients with ED were treated. Their female partners were asked to answer a questionnaire we have prepared to evaluate the efficacy of treatment, sexual satisfaction and changes in quality of life. It also included a question about female sexual function. From the results, the relationship between their female partner's satisfaction and efficacy of treatment, as well as female sexual function, were assessed.


RESULTS
Thirty (31%) questionnaires were returned to us for analysis. Effectiveness of the treatment was acknowledged by 90% of the partners. An improvement in their partner's quality of life was noticed by 60% of the women. The majority (66.7%) of the female partners were satisfied with sildenafil citrate treatment and 20% were disappointed. Moreover, 20% of the female partners were concerned about adverse events. Regarding female sexual function, some form of sexual dysfunction affected 46.7% of the women. Furthermore, a significant number (P = 0.0230) of the female partners disappointed with the treatment had some kind of sexual dysfunction.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicated that female partners reported relatively high levels of treatment satisfaction. Female partners' sexual function and anxiety regarding adverse events should be evaluated when their satisfaction with sildenafil citrate treatment is poor despite an improvement of erectile function.
Ichikawa
Takaharu
T
Department of Urology, Jyuzen General Hospital, 1-5 Kitashin-machi, Nihama, Ehime 792-8586, Japan. ichitochi@yahoo.co.jp
Takao
Akira
A
Manabe
Daisuke
D
Saegusa
Michihisa
M
Tanimoto
Ryuta
R
Aramaki
Kenji
K
Yamamoto
Masaya
M
Okazaki
Toshiya
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003075:Coitus; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011687:Purines; D011788:Quality of Life; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000523:psychology; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate