Objective: To investigate the impact of motor and non-motor alterations and couple adjustment on sexual function in women living with PD in Brazil.

Background: Among the non-motor alteration associated with Parkinson’s disease, sexual dysfunction is less discussed and, consequently, less known. Satisfactory sexual function has been associated with better quality of life even in elderlies. Therefore, it is imperative to know which motor and non-motor alterations negatively affect sexual function in order to find new approaches to improve this vital function.

Method: Thirty women with a confirmed diagnosis of Idiopathic PD for 6.36 years (SD 4.49); mean age of 53,33 years (SD=6.74), in stage 1 – 3 of disease evolution according to Hoehn and Yahr classification, without dementia, participated in the present study. After presenting the informed consent form and expressing agreement to participate in the study, participants were asked to answer, through telephone interviews, a previously established questionnaire that investigates: (1) general information; (2) socio-economic status; (3) information associated with PD; (4) mental and cognitive health; (5) motor and non-motor aspects of daily life experience assessed by section I and II of MDS-UPDRS; (6) Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) ; (7) Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS). The statistical analysis tested the correlation between total scores in the FSFI and age, disease evolution, I -II MDS-UPDRS scores and DAS.

Results: There was no correlation between age, disease evolution, severity in motor and non-motor alterations, and sexual function. However, there was a statistically significant correlation between DAS and sexual function (R=-.50; p<.02), particularly for sexual satisfaction (R=.45; p<.01) and excitation confidence (R=.45; p<.01).

Conclusion: For women living with PD, the quality of the partner’s relationship is the main factor for the quality of sexual function. Then, building interventions to help the couples reach or keep a good relationship is fundamental to improving sexual function in this population.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/factors-that-negatively-impact-the-sexual-function-of-women-living-with-parkinsons-disease/