Correlation between sexual function and postrenal transplant quality of life: does gender matter?
BACKGROUND
Subjective health perceptions affect sexual function differently in males and females; such differences, however, have not hitherto been studied comprehensively in kidney-transplant recipients.


OBJECTIVE
This study sought to investigate gender effect on the correlation between sexual function and quality-of-life (QOL) subdomains in kidney-transplant recipients by evaluating intercourse frequency (IF) and intercourse satisfaction (IS).


METHODS
In a cross-sectional study, 124 married kidney-transplant recipients, who were randomly selected, were interviewed. The bivariate correlations between QOL subdomains, and IF and IS were analyzed with the Pearson test in the males and females, separately.


METHODS
The IF and IS using the relationship and sexuality scale, and also the QOL using Short Form 36 (SF-36) were assessed.


RESULTS
Sixty-seven subjects (54%) reported having no intercourse within the preceding months. Fifty subjects (40%) reported having no intercourse satisfaction. While IF and IS correlated with the total SF-36 score in the males (r = 0.252 and 0.263, P < 0.05), there was no such correlation in the females. In the males, IS correlated with physical health (r = 0.281, P < 0.05) and physical function (r = 0.274, P < 0.05), and there was a correlation between IF and role limitation due to emotional problems (r = 0.250, P < 0.05). In the females, whereas IF correlated with general health (r = 0.372, P < 0.05) and mental health (r = 0.305, P < 0.05), there was no correlation between IS and QOL subdomains (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Sexual function and satisfaction seem to be correlated with mental and physical health in female and male kidney-transplant recipients, respectively. Although in the two genders, both physical and mental health should be equally evaluated; improving of the sexual function may be better achieved through different approaches.
Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Baqiyatallah Medical Sciences University, Tehran, Iran. ab.tavallayee@gmail.com
Seyed Abbas
SA
Tavallaii
Ali
A
Fathi-Ashtiani
Mahmoud
M
Nasiri
Shervin
S
Assari
Pouria
P
Maleki
Behzad
B
Einollahi
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011788:Quality of Life; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires