title: Association between the hemodialysis adequacy and sexual dysfunction in chronic renal failure: a preliminary study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The core question of the study was whether adequately achieved HD affected the sexual dysfunction in women on hemodialysis (HD) with chronic renal failure (CRF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven female patients on HD, including 18 women with adequate HD and 19 women with non-adequate HD, and 36 healthy controls were included in this study. Demographic and clinical variables, including the sexual hormones estradiol and testosterone, were recorded. Sexual function was assessed according to the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and results were compared between groups. Adequate HD was defined as an average urea clearance of over 1.3 (Kt/V) over three consecutive months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All domains of the FSFI questionnaire, with the exception of satisfaction, were higher in the control group than in the HD group. In comparing the adequate and non-adequate HD groups, there was no difference in any of the six domains of the FSDI questionnaire. Among the clinical variables, the number of menopausal women was higher in the HD group than in the control group (P = 0.023). Estradiol and testosterone levels were higher in the control group than in the HD group (P = 0.003, 0.027, respectively). The number of menopausal women and estradiol and testosterone levels showed no differences between the adequate and non-adequate HD groups. Correlation analysis between Kt/V and FSFI showed no significant relationship, but estrogen did show a significant relationship with FSFI (correlation coefficient = 0.399, P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HD adequacy alone does not have a significant impact on sexual dysfunction. Other treatments options should be considered to treat sexual dysfunction in women with CRF.
authors.forename: Jae Heon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Whan
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Doo
authors.forename: Won Jae
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Soon Hyo
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Eun Seop
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Hong Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ik Sung
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Hyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. yssong@schmc.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Yun Seob
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000523:psychology*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016387:Women's Health