title: Sexual Function and Quality of Life in Young Men With Spina Bifida: Could It Be Neglected Aspects in Clinical Practice?
abstract: To evaluate the sexual function of young men with spina bifida and the impact of the disorder on the quality of life (QOL).
  
  
  
  To assess sexual function and QOL by using self-administered questionnaires (International Index of Erectile Function [IIEF] and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey) for young men with spina bifida. We collected data from 47 young men with spina bifida between June 2013 and October 2013 at the spina bifida clinic of Severance Children's Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
  
  
  
  Of the 47 men who completed the IIEF, 24 (51.1%) had sexual intercourse at least once during the previous month, and the patients' sexual activity status had a significant association with their sexual function; however, the status of their sexual activity did not show any differentiation with their QOL scores. Concerning overall satisfaction in sexual activity, about 87% reported more than mild dysfunction; however, 67% and 50% had normal erectile function and orgasmic function, respectively. In 10 patients (41.7%) among them, the frequency of ejaculation problems ranged from "sometimes" to "most of the time" during sexual activity. The correlation between sexual function and QOL had a statistically significant association with the weak correlation (r = 0.496, P = .014).
  
  
  
  Sexual function should be evaluated routinely in patients with spina bifida because such patients experience sexual dysfunction, although sexual function did not directly show a significant correlation with the QOL in this study.
authors.affiliation: Mo-Im Kim Nursing Research Institute, College of Nursing, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Kyoung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Bladder-Urethra Rehabilitation Clinic, Department of Pediatric Urology, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yoonhye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Urological Science Institute, Department of Urology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: swhan@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Sang Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult