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open access

Vol 54, No 4 (2020)
Review Article
Submitted: 2020-01-14
Accepted: 2020-03-11
Published online: 2020-04-03
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Sexual dysfunction in Huntington’s Disease — a systematic review

Klaudia Szymuś1, Artur Bystrzyński1, Magdalena Kwaśniak-Butowska234, Agnieszka Konkel234, Agata Leśnicka5, Magdalena Nowacka6, Jarosław Sławek234
DOI: 10.5603/JNNS.a2020.0025
·
Pubmed: 32242915
·
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2020;54(4):305-311.
Affiliations
  1. Medical University of Gdansk, Student of Faculty of Medicine, Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie 3a, 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
  2. Department of Neurological-Psychiatric Nursing, Medical University of Gdansk, Al. Jana Pawła II 50, 80-462 Gdańsk, Poland
  3. Neurology Department, St. Adalbert Hospital, Copernicus, Aleja Jana Pawła II 50, 80-462 Gdańsk, Poland
  4. European Huntington’s Disease Network
  5. Department of Developmental Psychiatry, Psychotic and Geriatric Disorders, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland
  6. Doctoral School in the Social Sciences, University of Gdansk, Poland

open access

Vol 54, No 4 (2020)
Review articles
Submitted: 2020-01-14
Accepted: 2020-03-11
Published online: 2020-04-03

Abstract

Introduction. Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder of which the main symptoms are motor, cognitive and behavioural problems sometimes including sexual dysfunction. Aim. To review the current knowledge on sexual dysfunction in HD. Methods. Databases of Pubmed and Scopus were searched. Only original studies performed after 1994 were included (from 1994 a genetic test = proven diagnosis). Results. 162 publications were found, but only nine met our established criteria. The majority of patients with HD suffer from sexual disorders. The most common are: hypoactive sexual disorder (53–83% of patients), hyperactive sexual disorder (6–30%), erectile (48–74%) and ejaculatory dysfunctions (30–65%), lubrication problems (53–83%), and orgasmic dysfunction (35–78%). Discussion. Results may be biased for several reasons e.g.: social taboos regarding sex lives, medications that affect sexual function, impaired self–awareness of patients, small study samples, a lack of standardised questionnaires, and a focus only on the presence of sexual problems without describing them. Conclusions. Sexual disorders in HD are common. This is a problem that is probably underestimated, both by patients/caregivers and physicians, who should focus more on these symptoms in order to improve patient quality of life.

Abstract

Introduction. Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder of which the main symptoms are motor, cognitive and behavioural problems sometimes including sexual dysfunction. Aim. To review the current knowledge on sexual dysfunction in HD. Methods. Databases of Pubmed and Scopus were searched. Only original studies performed after 1994 were included (from 1994 a genetic test = proven diagnosis). Results. 162 publications were found, but only nine met our established criteria. The majority of patients with HD suffer from sexual disorders. The most common are: hypoactive sexual disorder (53–83% of patients), hyperactive sexual disorder (6–30%), erectile (48–74%) and ejaculatory dysfunctions (30–65%), lubrication problems (53–83%), and orgasmic dysfunction (35–78%). Discussion. Results may be biased for several reasons e.g.: social taboos regarding sex lives, medications that affect sexual function, impaired self–awareness of patients, small study samples, a lack of standardised questionnaires, and a focus only on the presence of sexual problems without describing them. Conclusions. Sexual disorders in HD are common. This is a problem that is probably underestimated, both by patients/caregivers and physicians, who should focus more on these symptoms in order to improve patient quality of life.

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Keywords

Huntington’s Disease, sexual disorder, sexual dysfunction, sexuality, depression

About this article
Title

Sexual dysfunction in Huntington’s Disease — a systematic review

Journal

Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska

Issue

Vol 54, No 4 (2020)

Article type

Review Article

Pages

305-311

Published online

2020-04-03

Page views

2191

Article views/downloads

907

DOI

10.5603/JNNS.a2020.0025

Pubmed

32242915

Bibliographic record

Neurol Neurochir Pol 2020;54(4):305-311.

Keywords

Huntington’s Disease
sexual disorder
sexual dysfunction
sexuality
depression

Authors

Klaudia Szymuś
Artur Bystrzyński
Magdalena Kwaśniak-Butowska
Agnieszka Konkel
Agata Leśnicka
Magdalena Nowacka
Jarosław Sławek

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