Sexual life of males over 50 years of age with spinal-cord lesions of at least 20 years.
BACKGROUND
To assess over the past year the sexuality of male patients with spinal-cord injury (SCI) over 50 years of age with spinal lesions of at least 20 years.


METHODS
Subjects were stratified in two groups: 44 individuals under 60 years and 55 individuals over 60 years. A detailed sexual anamnesis was taken for all, and the SF-36 Health Survey questionnaire was completed, with questions 13 and 14 concerning overall sexual life answered through the International Index of Erectile Function.


RESULTS
The younger group reached a median score of +50 for each domain of the SF-36; however, the differences between the two groups are not statistically relevant. The physical domain of the SF-36 showed a median score of 43.2 for the younger versus 41.1 for the older, whereas the mental domain showed 44.8 and 43.1, respectively. In the first group, 29/44 (65.9) individuals claimed erectile dysfunction versus 43/55 (78.1%) in the second, whereas 34/44 (77.2%) of the first group reported having sexual intercourse versus 13/55 (23.6%) with P<0.01 (chi2 test). In the 2nd, 29/55 (52.7%) individuals reported physical intimacy without sexual intercourse. For each group, the overall sexual satisfaction is statistically correlated to the duration of the relationship (linear progression test P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Median quality of life was high. Sexual intercourse is fundamental only for males of the first group. Most aging couples presented a different way of thinking about sex without the need for intercourse. Physicians should acquire knowledge about sexuality and aging in SCI patients.


BACKGROUND
This study was not sponsored.
Lombardi
G
G
Department of Neurourology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. giuseppelombardi@interfree.it
Macchiarella
A
A
Cecconi
F
F
Aito
S
S
Del Popolo
G
G
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000209:etiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors