Dados do Trabalho

Título

Sexual function in women with Parkinson's disease

Resumo

Introduction: Impairment of sexual function in Parkinson's Disease (PD) is common and problematic, with many of its physical and mental aspects interrupted throughout the disease. Among the non-motor changes associated with PD, sexual function is less discussed and, consequently, less known. Satisfactory sexual function has been associated with better quality of life.
Objective: To assess sexual performance and the couple's level of adjustment in women with PD.
Methods: Forty-seven women with a confirmed diagnosis of idiopathic PD and age ranging from 38 to 68 years, stage 1 – 3 of disease progression according to the Hoehn and Yahr classification, without dementia, participated in the study. After submitting the Free and Informed Consent Term and agreeing to participate in the study, the participants were asked to answer a previously established questionnaire through telephone contact. The following were investigated: (1) general information; (2) socioeconomic status; (3) information associated with the PD; (4) mental and cognitive health; (5) motor and non-motor aspects of daily life experience assessed by sections I and II of the MDS-UPDRS; (6) Sexual quotient – female version (QS-VF); (7) Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS). Statistical analysis tested the correlation between total sexual performance scores assessed by QS-VF and DAS.
Results: There was a statistically significant correlation between sexual performance assessed by QS - VF and DAS mainly for values (p < 0.00), behavior (p < 0.00), tired for sex (p < 0.00) and happiness (p < 0.01).
Conclusion: For women living with PD, the quality of the marital relationship is the main factor for the quality of sexual performance. Therefore, seeking strategies with the objective of intervening and helping couples to achieve or maintain a good marital relationship is of fundamental importance to improve the sexual function/sexual performance of this population.

Palavras Chave

Sexual function. Parkinson's disease. Marital relationship.