Sexual dysfunction in chronic liver disease: is liver transplantation an effective cure?
The goal of liver transplantation is not only to ensure patient long-term survival but also to offer the opportunity to achieve psychologic and physical integrity. Quality of life after liver transplantation may be affected by unsatisfactory sexual function. Before liver transplantation, sexual dysfunction and sex hormone disturbances are reported in men and women mainly due to abnormality of physiology of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and, in some cases, origin of liver disease. Successful liver transplantation should theoretically restore hormonal balance and improve sexual function both in men and women, thus improving the reproductive performance. However, after transplantation, up to 25% of patients report persistent sexual dysfunction, and approximately one third of patients describe the appearance of de novo sexual dysfunction. Despite the described high prevalence of this condition, epidemiologic data are relatively scant. Further studies on pathophysiology and risk factors in the field of sexual function after liver transplantation along with new strategies to support and inform patients on the waiting list and after surgery are needed.
Burra
Patrizia
P
Department of Surgical and Gastroenterological Sciences, Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. burra@unipd.it
Germani
Giacomo
G
Masier
Annalisa
A
De Martin
Eleonora
E
Gambato
Martina
M
Salonia
Andrea
A
Bo
Patrizio
P
Vitale
Alessandro
A
Cillo
Umberto
U
Russo
Francesco Paolo
FP
Senzolo
Marco
M
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome