Evaluation of Sexual Dysfunction in men with Spinal Cord Injury using the Male Sexual Quotient

The purpose of this study is to assess different aspects of sexual function in men with spinal cord injury (SCI) using the Male Sexual Quotient (MSQ), a newly developed tool to assess sexual function and satisfaction.

and Setting: This is a cross-sectional study of men with SCI presenting for evaluation at a tertiary rehabilitation center.

Patients greater than 18 years of age with SCI for more than 1 year were assessed from February to August 2012. Patients completed the MSQ questionnaire as well as the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM).

Performance in various domains of sexual function was evaluated using the MSQ and SHIM questionnaires.

A total of 295 men with a mean age of 40. 7 ± 14. 5 years were evaluated. The median time since SCI was 3. 6 (1. 6-7. 0) years. Erectile function, ejaculation, and orgasm were the most severely affected domains. The median MSQ score was 40 (8-66), and the median SHIM score was 5 (0-16). The diagnostic properties of the two instruments were similar in the discrimination of sexually active subjects. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0. 950 (95% CI 0. 923-0. 979) for the MSQ and 0. 942 (95% CI 0. 915-0. 968) for the SHIM. There was a strong correlation between the two instruments (r=0. 826, 95% CI 0. 802-0. 878).

Different domains of sexual function are severely impaired in men with SCI although their sexual interest remains high. The MSQ and SHIM scores strongly correlate, but the MSQ provides a more comprehensive assessment of sexual dysfunction in male patients with SCI.

Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation. 2016 Jan 28 [Epub ahead of print]

Eduardo de Paula Miranda, Cristiano Mendes Gomes, José de Bessa, Carmita Helena Najjar Abdo, Carlos Henrique Suzuki Bellucci, Jose Everton de Castro Filho, Fabrício Leite de Carvalho, Daniel Rubio de Souza, Linamara Rizzo Battistella, Márcia Scazufca, Homero Bruschini, Tarcisio E P Barros Filho, Miguel Srougi

Division of Urology, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Division of Urology, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil. , Division of Urology, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil. , Institute of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil. , Division of Urology, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil. , Division of Urology, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil. , Division of Urology, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil. , Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil. , Institute of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil. , Department of Orthopedics, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil. , Division of Urology, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil. , Department of Orthopedics, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil. , Division of Urology, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

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