OAB symptoms negatively impact sexual function in men

Having overactive bladder (OAB) does not appear to affect the frequency of men’s sexual activity, but it is associated with an increased likelihood of erectile dysfunction (ED) and premature ejaculation (PE), suggests a large representative population-level study.

Clinical Implications for OAB Screening in Men with ED or PE

“Our results suggest a need in daily clinical practice to screen for OAB symptoms for persons who report ED or PE,” say Mikolaj Przydacz (Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland) and colleagues in the World Journal of Urology.

Study Design: ED POLAND and Participant Demographics

The study, an extension of ED POLAND, a cross-sectional investigation of overall sexual health among Polish men, involved 3001 men aged 18 years or older who completed web-based interviews.

The interviews included questions on frequency of sexual activity and number of sexual partners, as well as the 5-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic tool (PEDT), and the Overactive Bladder-Validated 8-question Screener (OAB-V8).

OAB's Lack of Influence on Sexual Activity Frequency

OAB, defined as an OAB-V8 score of 8 points or more, was not significantly associated with frequency of sexual activity after taking into account baseline variables, such as age, smoking, obesity, alcohol intake, and health conditions known to affect sexual health, nor the number of sexual partners.

Correlation Between OAB and Erectile Dysfunction

However, OAB did correlate with ED, with the 928 men with OAB significantly more likely to score 16 points or less on the IIEF-5, reflecting clinically relevant ED, than the 2703 men without OAB, at a rate of 48.7% versus 21.7%. The proportion of patients without ED (IIEF score of 22–25 points) was a respective 19.2% versus 47.7%, and correlations with OAB were seen for mild through to severe ED.

Association Between OAB and Premature Ejaculation

OAB was also significantly associated with clinically significant PE, defined as a PEDT score of 11 or more, being more prevalent among men with than without OAB, at 28.3% versus 15.2%. The proportion of patients without PE (PEDT score of 0–8 points) was 44.0% versus 70.0%, respectively, and associations with OAB were seen for the probable presence and the presence of PE.

Independence of OAB's Effects from Age and Lifestyle Factors

The researchers note that OAB was significantly associated with ED and PE for men of any age and multivariate linear regression showed that its effect was independent of age, comorbidities, and lifestyle habits.

Quality of Life Impacts for Men with OAB, ED, and PE

Przydacz et al point out that men who had OAB and ED or PE had a poor sex-specific quality of life, with approximately 20–25% being dissatisfied or moderately dissatisfied, compared with approximately 15% of those without OAB. This was also the case for overall quality of life, with approximately 10–30% of those with OAB and ED or PE rating their life as terrible, being unhappy, or mostly dissatisfied, compared with approximately 15% of those without OAB.

Recommendations for Screening and Future Research Needs

The results of this study may suggest the need for screening for OAB symptoms with persons who report ED or PE, by asking them about bothersome storage (Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms). However, they point out that “as it is not known whether treatment specific for OAB will have an effect on management of ED and PE,” further research on this is needed.

Read the article here: World J Urol 2024; 42: 139

To access to the complete publication, please contact medical_information@pierre-fabre.com

Impact of Overactive Bladder on Men’s Sexual Health

A recent study highlights that while overactive bladder (OAB) does not affect the frequency of sexual activity in men, it is significantly associated with erectile dysfunction (ED) and premature ejaculation (PE). This large-scale study, conducted by Mikolaj Przydacz and colleagues from Jagiellonian University Medical College, involved 3001 Polish men aged 18 and older.

Key Findings:

1. OAB and Sexual Activity: OAB, defined by a score of 8 or more on the OAB-V8 screener, showed no significant impact on the frequency of sexual activity or the number of sexual partners when adjusted for variables like age, smoking, obesity, alcohol intake, and other health conditions.
2. OAB and Erectile Dysfunction: Men with OAB were significantly more likely to experience ED, with 48.7% of men with OAB scoring 16 or less on the IIEF-5 (indicating clinically relevant ED), compared to 21.7% of men without OAB.
3. OAB and Premature Ejaculation: Clinically significant PE, defined as a PEDT score of 11 or more, was more prevalent among men with OAB (28.3%) compared to those without (15.2%).
4. Quality of Life: Men with both OAB and either ED or PE reported poorer sex-specific and overall quality of life. Approximately 20-25% were dissatisfied or moderately dissatisfied with their sex life, and 10-30% rated their overall life as terrible, unhappy, or mostly dissatisfied.

Clinical Implications:

• The study suggests the need for routine screening for OAB in men reporting ED or PE.
• The impact of OAB treatment on managing ED and PE remains uncertain, necessitating further research.

This study underscores the interconnectedness of urinary and sexual health, advocating for integrated screening and potential treatment approaches in clinical practice.

Read the article here: World J Urol 2024; 42: 139

To access to the complete publication, please contact medical_information@pierre-fabre.com