Sexual experiences of men with incontinent partners.
BACKGROUND
Several studies show that urinary incontinence (UI) impairs women's sexual functioning and sexual satisfaction. However, there is no scientific knowledge about the effects of UI on sexual functioning of the male partners.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze sexual functioning of the male partners of females with UI.


METHODS
During a period of 2.5 years all new female patients and their partners (both groups aged 18 years and older), who presented at our outpatient clinic for urological evaluation, were asked for demographic characteristics, medical history, and referral indication including the main urological complaint. In addition they were asked to fill in the Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction questionnaires about sexual functioning.


METHODS
Sexual function measured by the Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction questionnaire.


RESULTS
A total of 189 sexually active couples completed the questionnaires. Eighty-one (42.9%) of the women had UI as main urological complaint. Differences were found between women with UI and those without. Women with UI have a lower overall sexual function (P = 0.02), lower frequency of intercourse (P = 0.02), more problems with communication (P = 0.036), and more often show avoidable behavior with regard to sexual activity. (P = 0.002) Men with partners with UI showed a diminished overall sexual function (6.66 +/- 1.53) compared with men with women without UI (5.95 +/- 1.22, P = 0.001). Furthermore, comparisons of subscales also demonstrate a lower frequency of intercourse (5.62 +/- 2.00, 6.49 +/- 1.96), less satisfaction (8.08 +/- 2.79, 9.69 +/- 3.63), and more erectile problems (6.01 +/- 2.28, 6.87 +/- 3.23) in men with partners with UI. (P = 0.03, P = 0.001, P = 0.037)


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that female urinary incontinence correlates with their partners' overall sexual functioning and sexual satisfaction. In addition, significant differences were found with regard to the satisfaction with one's sex life between a woman with UI and her partner.
Department of Urology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. m.d.bekker@lumc.nl [corrected]
Milou D
MD
Bekker
Jacky J H
JJ
Beck
Hein
H
Putter
Mels F
MF
van Driel
Rob C M
RC
Pelger
Willibrord C
WC
Weijmar Schultz
Guus A B
GA
Lycklama à Nijeholt
Henk W
HW
Elzevier
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D003075:Coitus; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000523:psychology*