Women undergoing hemodialysis for kidney failure are likely to have sexual problems, according to Italian researchers.
The researchers asked 659 women on hemodialysis to complete the Female Sexual Dysfunction Index (FSFI), a questionnaire that helps assess the areas of desire, arousal, lubrication, pain, orgasm, and satisfaction. The women were from Europe and South America.
Approximately 55% of the women lived with a partner and 35% of them said they were sexually active.
Overall, 84% of the participants reported sexual dysfunction. Among the sexually-active women, 55% said they had sexual problems.
Sexual dysfunction was more common among women without a partner. Ninety-six percent of the women who were not on a transplant waiting list and who did not have a partner had sexual dysfunction.
Other factors made sexual dysfunction more common among the women. These included older age, reaching menopause, lower educational level, depression, and diabetes. Also, women who took diuretic therapy (water pills) were more likely to report sexual dysfunction.
Additional research could show how much sexual dysfunction affects the quality of life for women on hemodialysis, the authors said.
“With this study, we shed light on the highly frequent condition of female sexual dysfunction in women on dialysis,” said Dr. Giovanni Strippoli, the main study author, in a news release. “This deserves attention and further study, since specific interventions are not yet available to address it.”
The study was published in the April 5 online edition of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Dialysis is a procedure that cleans wastes and extra fluids from the blood, a function usually performed by healthy kidneys. Hemodialysis does this through a dialysis machine and a filter called a dialyzer. Most patients on hemodialysis have treatments three times a week.
Resources
American Society of Nephrology via Newswise
“Most Women on Dialysis May Experience Sexual Problems”
(March 30, 2012)
http://www.newswise.com/articles/most-women-on-dialysis-may-experience-sexual-problems
Cleveland Clinic
Elder, Julie A. and Yvonne Braver
“Female Sexual Dysfunction”
(Specific date not given; website copyright date is 2011)
http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/womens-health/female-sexual-dysfunction/
Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology
Strippoli, Giovanni F. M. and Collaborative Depression and Sexual Dysfunction (CDS) in Hemodialysis Working Group
“Sexual Dysfunction in Women with ESRD Requiring Hemodialysis”
(Abstract. Published online before print: April 2012)
http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/content/early/2012/04/04/CJN.12601211.abstract?sid=084df3b1-10a2-49d9-b2b8-8fb203f1d1a4
HealthDay
“Women on Dialysis May Experience Sexual Problems: Survey”
(April 5, 2012)
http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=663356
National Kidney Foundation
“Hemodialysis”
(2012)
http://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/hemodialysis.cfm