title: Correlates of quality of sexual life in male and female patients with Parkinson disease and their partners.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with Parkinson disease (PD) and their partners may experience a worsening of their sexual life.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess quality of sexual life (QoSL) in male and female PD patients and their partners.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical, demographic and clinical data was collected regarding consecutive PD patients, including depression, and motor symptom rating. Partners' data included the short form-12 health questionnaire (SF-12). All patients and partners filled the 5-item QoSL questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 89 PD patients (66 men) and 69 spouses (52 women) was analyzed. Male patients rejected sex significantly less than female patients and their sexual desire was higher, but female patients reported higher sexual satisfaction. Patients and partners similarly perceived their relationship which was averagely good. Analysis within couples demonstrated that better QoSL of patients could be predicted by gender (male), better QoSL of their partners and, motor severity, but not the patient's depression, age or use of l-dopa. The partner's QoSL was explained by younger age, and better motor scores of their parkinsonian partner. Treatment of the PD patient with l-dopa or dopamine agonist was associated with worse partner's QoSL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences in QoSL of male and female PD patients and within couples were found. These findings suggest that focusing on partner's needs may improve QoSL of patients and partners troubled by PD.
authors.affiliation: Sexual Medicine Center, Department of Urology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer 52621, Israel. Electronic address: gila.bronner@sheba.health.gov.il.
authors.forename: Gila
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bronner
authors.affiliation: The Movement Disorders and Parkinson's Disease Clinic, Sagol Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Oren S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: The Movement Disorders and Parkinson's Disease Clinic, Sagol Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: Gilad
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yahalom
authors.affiliation: The Movement Disorders and Parkinson's Disease Clinic, Sagol Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: Evgenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kozlova
authors.affiliation: The Movement Disorders and Parkinson's Disease Clinic, Sagol Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Orlev
authors.affiliation: The Movement Disorders and Parkinson's Disease Clinic, Sagol Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: Noa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Molshatzki
authors.affiliation: The Movement Disorders and Parkinson's Disease Clinic, Sagol Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.affiliation: The Movement Disorders and Parkinson's Disease Clinic, Sagol Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hassin-Baer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D015259:Dopamine Agents
keywords: Couple; Desire; Parkinson's disease; Partner; Quality of sexual life; Sexual satisfaction