Men who have psoriasis may be more likely to have sexual problems, such as erectile dysfunction (ED), according to Taiwanese researchers.
Problems may be more common among men over 60, they added.
Psoriasis is a condition in which dead skin cells accumulate on the skin surface. Affected areas become red and thick. White patches called scales also develop. Some men with psoriasis have genital lesions.
The study, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, examined data from two groups of men selected from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Database between 2000 and 2001. One group included 12,300 patients who had been diagnosed with psoriasis during that time period. The other group consisted of 61,500 age-matched controls. The mean age of both groups was 46 years. Both groups were followed until 2008.
The researchers reported that
• 2.46% of all 73,800 patients had sexual dysfunction at some point during the follow-up period.
• 3.03% of the 12,300 patients with psoriasis experienced sexual dysfunction.
• 2.34% of the 61,500 patients without psoriasis had sexual problems.
• The most common problem was erectile dysfunction.
After accounting for factors such as age, monthly income, and other comorbidities, the hazard ratio for the men with psoriasis was 1.27 times as high as that for those without psoriasis.
The researchers also found that sexual dysfunction was more likely in men over age 60 and in men who had psoriatic arthritis, a type of arthritis that sometimes accompanies psoriasis.
Men who received systemic treatment for psoriasis did not have a significantly increased risk for sexual dysfunction. “Our results supported a previous observation that reduction in clinical severity of psoriasis by intense treatment leads to improved sexual function,” the researchers wrote.
In their discussion, the authors noted that other health conditions that are often common in psoriasis patients, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and coronary artery disease, are also associated with erectile dysfunction.
The authors also pointed out that psychological issues associated with skin diseases may play a role in the increased likelihood of sexual dysfunction among psoriasis patients. People with psoriasis often feel distressed and embarrassed about their condition. They may feel “sexually undesirable” and unattractive, especially if the condition has spread to private areas. This distress could lead to sexual dysfunction.
Based on their research, the authors suggest that physicians keep sexual health in mind when treating patients with psoriasis, especially older patients.
Resources
Journal of Sexual Medicine
Chen, Yi-Ju, MD, PhD, et al.
“Increased Risk of Sexual Dysfunction in Male Patients with Psoriasis: A Nationwide Population-Based Follow-Up Study”
(Full-text. First published online May 21, 2012)
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02767.x/abstract
News-Medical.net
“Psoriasis linked to sexual dysfunction in men”
(June 1, 2012)
http://www.news-medical.net/news/20120601/Psoriasis-linked-to-sexual-dysfunction-in-men.aspx
PubMed Health
“Psoriasis”
(Last reviewed: November 22, 2011)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001470/