Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Division of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
J Sex Med. 2018 Jun;15(6):853-865. doi: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2018.03.087. Epub 2018 Apr 26.
Endometriosis-associated pain and dyspareunia influence female sexuality, but little is known about men's experiences in affected couples.
To investigate how men partners experience sexuality in partnership with women with endometriosis.
A multi-center case-control study was performed between 2010 and 2015 in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. 236 Partners of endometriosis patients and 236 partners of age-matched control women without endometriosis with a similar ethnic background were asked to answer selected, relevant questions of the Brief Index of Sexual Functioning and the Global Sexual Functioning questionnaire, as well as some investigator-derived questions.
We sought to evaluate sexual satisfaction of men partners of endometriosis patients, investigate differences in sexual activities between men partners of women with and without endometriosis, and identify options to improve partnership sexuality in couples affected by endometriosis.
Many partners of endometriosis patients reported changes in sexuality (75%). A majority of both groups was (very) satisfied with their sexual relationship (73.8% vs 58.1%, P = .002). Nevertheless, more partners of women diagnosed with endometriosis were not satisfied (P = .002) and their sexual problems more strongly interfered with relationship happiness (P = .001) than in partners of control women. Frequencies of sexual intercourse (P < .001) and all other partnered sexual activities (oral sex, petting) were significantly higher in the control group. The wish for an increased frequency of sexual activity (P = .387) and sexual desire (P = .919) did not differ statistically between both groups.
There is a need to evaluate qualitative factors that influence sexual satisfaction in endometriosis patients.
This is one of the first studies to investigate male sexuality affected by endometriosis. The meticulous verification of diagnosis and disease stage according to operation reports and histology allows for a high reliability of diagnosis. Our men's response rate of almost 50% is higher compared to other studies. Recruiting men through their woman partner may have caused selection bias. The adjustment to the specific situation in endometriosis by selecting questions from the Brief Index of Sexual Functioning and Global Sexual Functioning and adding investigator-derived questions likely influenced the validity of the questionnaires. Despite the fact that both partners of endometriosis patients and of control women largely reported high sexual satisfaction, there are challenges for some couples that arise in the context of a sexual relationship when one partner has endometriosis. Challenges such as sexuality-related pain or a reduced frequency of sexual activities should be addressed by health care professionals to ameliorate any current difficulties and to prevent the development or aggravation of sexual dysfunction. Hämmerli S, Kohl Schwartz AS, Geraedts K, et al. Does Endometriosis Affect Sexual Activity and Satisfaction of the Man Partner? A Comparison of Partners From Women Diagnosed With Endometriosis and Controls. J Sex Med 2018;15:853-865.
子宫内膜异位症相关的疼痛和性交困难会影响女性的性生活，但男性在受影响的夫妇中的经历却知之甚少。
调查男性伴侣在与患有子宫内膜异位症的女性伴侣建立关系时的性体验。
2010 年至 2015 年，在瑞士、德国和奥地利进行了一项多中心病例对照研究。236 名子宫内膜异位症患者的伴侣和 236 名年龄匹配的无子宫内膜异位症对照组女性的伴侣，她们具有相似的种族背景，被要求回答简短性功能指数和全球性功能问卷的一些选定的相关问题，以及一些研究者提出的问题。
许多子宫内膜异位症患者的伴侣报告说性生活发生了变化（75%）。两组的大多数人（非常）对他们的性关系感到满意（73.8%比 58.1%，P=0.002）。然而，更多的子宫内膜异位症女性的伴侣不满意（P=0.002），他们的性问题更强烈地影响了关系的幸福（P=0.001），而不是对照组女性的伴侣。性交频率（P<0.001）和所有其他伴侣性活动（口交、爱抚）在对照组中明显更高。两组对增加性活动频率（P=0.387）和性欲望（P=0.919）的愿望没有统计学差异。
需要评估影响子宫内膜异位症患者性满意度的定性因素。
这是第一项研究男性受子宫内膜异位症影响的性体验的研究之一。根据手术报告和组织学仔细核实诊断和疾病分期，可以保证诊断的高度可靠性。我们的男性应答率接近 50%，高于其他研究。通过女性伴侣招募男性可能会导致选择偏倚。选择简短性功能指数和全球性功能问卷中的问题，并添加研究者提出的问题，以适应子宫内膜异位症的具体情况，可能会影响问卷的有效性。尽管子宫内膜异位症患者的伴侣和对照组女性的大多数人报告说性满意度很高，但当一方患有子宫内膜异位症时，一些夫妇的性关系中会出现一些挑战。例如与性行为相关的疼痛或性活动频率降低等问题，应该由医疗保健专业人员来解决，以改善当前的困难，并防止性功能障碍的发展或恶化。Hämmerli S, Kohl Schwartz AS, Geraedts K, et al. Does Endometriosis Affect Sexual Activity and Satisfaction of the Man Partner? A Comparison of Partners From Women Diagnosed With Endometriosis and Controls. J Sex Med 2018;15:853-865.
