title: Sexual function: a comparison between male renal transplant recipients and hemodialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For all the studies into the sexual health of kidney transplant recipients, there is a paucity of controlled studies regarding the difference in the sexual relationship of kidney transplant recipients and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients under hemodialysis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We compared the sexual function of kidney transplant recipients and ESRD patients under hemodialysis in male patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients' sexual function was assessed using the Relationship and Sexuality Scale.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case-controlled study, 89 male renal transplant recipients and 25 male hemodialysis patients were randomly selected from the outpatient clinic of Baqiyatallah Hospital, Tehran, Iran, in 2006. The two groups were not significantly different in terms of age, living place, level of education, duration of ESRD (months), ESRD cause, and somatic comorbidities (Ifudu index).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The renal transplant patients in comparison with the hemodialysis group reported a better overall sexual relationship (17.3 +/- 0.6 vs. 21.6 +/- 1.4; P = 0.001), and all subscales including sexual function (9.9 +/- 0.3 vs. 11.4 +/- 0.6; P = 0.03), sexual frequency (6.3 +/- 0.3 vs. 7.4 +/- 0.6; P = 0.04), and sexual fear (1.1 +/- 0.2 vs. 2.8 +/- 0.5; P = 0.001). In addition, kidney recipients had significantly more sexual intercourse in a 2-week period prior to the study (P = 0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our male population, kidney transplant recipients, in comparison with the ESRD patients under hemodialysis, reported a better sexual relationship.
authors.affiliation: Baqiyatallah Medical Sciences University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Abbass
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Tavallaii
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirzamani
authors.forename: Ashkan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heshmatzade Behzadi
authors.forename: Shervin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Assari
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Khoddami Vishteh
authors.forename: Behzad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hajarizadeh
authors.forename: Behzad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Einollahi
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003075:Coitus; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires