Objective: To investigate the sexual needs of PwP, and understand their preferences for discussing sexual health concerns.
To propose an intervention framework tailored for PwP in our multidisciplinary movement disorders unit.

Background: Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a devastating, common, non-motor symptom in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The longitudinal nature of treating neurological patients puts physicians and health care professionals (HCPs) in an important position to introduce sexual issues. However, they rarely engage in discussing the sexual needs of people with PD (PwP) and their partners.

Method: 100 PwP (78 men) were asked about their interest in receiving sexual needs counseling. They were evaluated by answering the following questions: “Would you use a sex counseling service if it were available?”, and “What is your preference for the counselor’s expertise (neurologist, psychiatrist/ psychologist, sex therapist, or support group)?”, and “Would you pay for a sex counseling service or expect a free service?”.

Results: More than half of all responders were motivated to receive sexual counseling, regardless of whether they experienced SD or not. Seventy two percent preferred counseling, free of charge, from health providers, and 53.3% were ready to pay for sex therapy expert counseling. Men more than women (74% vs 40%) would use sex therapy, even though SD was common in both genders. Men, more than women, would actively seek sex counseling (49% vs 9%). The likelihood to use sex counseling services was not correlated with the type of SD, age, ethnic origin, PD duration, feeling depressed, or having an intimate partner.

Conclusion: PwP were shown to need and be willing to use sexual counselling health services. They would have sexual counselling services, either from medical or mental health providers, as well as from a specialist in sex therapy. The majority of the PwP expect a complementary service, however, more than half were ready to pay for the service, especially from a professional sex therapist. Women should be approached and offered sexual counseling actively, since, as opposed to the men, they usually do not actively seek sex counseling.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/preferences-for-discussing-sexual-health-concerns/