BACKGROUND: Effective emotional regulation (ER) skills are important for sexual function, as they impact emotional awareness and expression during sexual activity, and therefore, satisfaction and distress. Emotion regulation interventions may offer a promising approach to improve sexual health. Web-based emotion regulation may be a therapeutic strategy for men and women with sexual health concerns. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of intervention trials investigating its effects in this context, much less using the internet.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the effects of a web-based emotion regulation training program for sexual function in both men and women.
METHODS: The participants were recruited based on their self-reported sexual problems, which for men was defined by a score of <25 on the International Index Erectile Function (IIEF) and for women by a score of <26.55 on the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). The final sample included 60 participants who were randomized to either a web-based emotion regulation training for sexual function or to a waitlist control group. The treatment consisted of an 8-week web-based emotion regulation training for sexual function. The participants were assessed at baseline, post intervention, and the 3-month follow-up.
RESULTS: Of the 60 participants included, only 6 completed all 3 assessment points (n=5, 20% in the treatment group and n=1, 5% in the waitlist control group) after receiving the intervention. At follow-up, there were no significant differences between groups in any measure. Among the intervention completers, large-to-moderate within-group effect sizes were observed between the assessment points on measures of emotion regulation, depression, lubrication, orgasm, thoughts of sexual failure, and abuse during sexual activity. The adherence rate was very low, limiting the generalizability of the findings.
CONCLUSIONS: Participants who completed the intervention showed improvements in both sexual function domains and emotion regulation. Nonetheless, due to a high dropout rate, this trial failed to collect sufficient data to allow for any conclusions to be drawn on treatment effects.
BACKGROUND: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04792177; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04792177.

UNASSIGNED: Prolonged and excessive use of alcohol can affect the sexual function. The occurrence of sexual dysfunction has adverse psychological and interpersonal consequences.
UNASSIGNED: To assess the occurrence and correlates of sexual dysfunction in individuals suffering from alcohol dependence.
UNASSIGNED: Seventy male subjects hospitalized in a tertiary care hospital for treatment of alcohol dependence syndrome with simple withdrawal symptoms were included in the study with their informed consent. Their sexual function was evaluated utilizing a 14-item changes in sexual functioning questionnaire.
UNASSIGNED: According to the findings of the current study, sexual dysfunction is quite prevalent in alcohol-dependent people (75.7%). Erectile dysfunction was the most common disorder, followed by diminished sexual desire and early ejaculation.
UNASSIGNED: Alcohol-dependence patients have a high prevalence of sexual dysfunctions. In routine clinical practice, this may be overlooked. Clinicians must be made aware of the frequent occurrence of sexual disorders in alcohol dependence patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women with COPD and the factors related to its presence.
METHODS: Cross-sectional observational study during 2021, including women with COPD diagnosed by spirometry through convenience sampling. Data on age, smoking status, spirometric data, comorbidities and medications used were collected. A sexual health questionnaire was administered.
RESULTS: The study included 101 women with a mean age of 59.7 (11.3) years. All had experienced a change in sexual activity, with 44% attributing it to COPD. Among them, 51.5% experienced dyspnea during coitus. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction was 52.5%. Women with sexual dysfunction were older and had a lower Tiffeneau index. Furthermore, they consumed alcohol more frequently and had hypertension and cerebrovascular disease, and less often, they had diabetes and heart failure. However, they scored lower on the Charlson index corrected for age. Patients with sexual dysfunction used inhaled triple therapy less frequently.
CONCLUSIONS: Sexual dysfunction is common in women with COPD. Further studies are needed to investigate its causes, mechanisms, and potential treatments.

The use of nutraceutical products to enhance male sexual performance has a long history, especially with regard to the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Alternative treatments for ED are becoming increasingly popular, with growing interest from consumers, as well as increased revenue for manufacturers. Dietary supplements (DSs), which are a mixture of active ingredients, are mainly sold online. In randomized controlled trials, the molecules contained in DSs have demonstrated varying degrees of effectiveness, or even have no evidence to support their use. However, none of the studies carried out provided sufficient evidence to consider these products a first-line therapy. Therefore, the combination of the various active ingredients, especially in relation to the daily dose, leaves doubts about the real effectiveness. In order to evaluate the potential efficacy of DS formulations, we analyzed the products marketed in Italy using a scoring approach. A systematic review of the literature was performed to evaluate the effect of DS and to detect the active ingredients able to improve erectile function-called effective ingredients (EIs)-and their minimal effective daily dose (mED). A metanalysis identified some nutraceuticals, such as Panax ginseng, Tribulus terrestris and L-arginine, that are able to improve male sexual function. Based on the scoring system, 2 (8%) supplements matched with the cluster of higher expected efficacy, 3 (12%) with the lower efficacy cluster and 20 (80%) matched with the criterion of no expected efficacy. DSs marketed in Italy are usually blends of many substances that are frequently employed at a negligible dose or without any evidence.

UNASSIGNED: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common cause of sexual disorders in men with limited treatment options. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of low-intensity extra corporal shockwave therapy (LI-ESWT) in patients suffering from ED.
UNASSIGNED: A single-group, pre-test, and post-test pre-experimental study were conducted. Thirty-one ED patients were prospectively selected according to the eligibility criteria. In each session, 3000 shocks were applied at 5 points over the penis. Eight sessions were delivered in total with a 2-3-day interval. The patient\'s condition was assessed using the International Index of Electric Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire at baseline and one month after the last treatment session. Paired t-test was used to determine the difference between the pre-test and post-test.
UNASSIGNED: Mean age of the patients was 44.6 (± 14.70) ranging from 25 to 78 years. The majority of them were married (83.9%) and service providers (51.6%). We have also found 51.6% overweight, 9.7% obese, 48.4% diabetic, 45.2% hypertensive, 12.9% with enlarged prostate, 45.2% smoker, 25.8% alcoholic, and 71% with sleep disturbances. During the pre-test, 9.7% had severe ED and 51.6% had moderate ED. After the treatment, no patients were found with severe ED, and few of them had moderate ED (9.7%). The mean difference in IIEF-5 score during the pre-test and post-test was statistically significant (p= < 0.001).
UNASSIGNED: The study showed efficacy of LI-ESWT in a subset of patients with ED. Future studies with larger sample size, placebo group, and longer follow-up periods are recommended.

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) has a negative impact on women\'s quality of life, self-esteem, and physical health. The aim of the present study was to explore the prevalence and the factors associated with FSD using an online questionnaire. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among young adults (18-35 years old) in Hungary using the DSM-5 criteria. The participants (n = 5942) were divided into three major groups: FSD (20.3%), an intermediate group (43.9%), and a control group (35.6%). Most of the women showing FSD were affected with female orgasmic disorder (9.2%) and genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (4.6%), while female sexual interest/arousal disorder was found in altogether 100 women (1.7%); 4.8% of women were affected by more than one definite disorder. The occurrence of female sexual dysfunction was related to the women\'s previous sexual history (first sexual experience, sexual education, early encounter with pornographic content, and sexual abuse), their self-satisfaction (with their own body, genitalia, and sexual attraction), and their sexual orientation. Sexual dysfunction showed a strong association with abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, and self-esteem. The present study identified the relationship between sexual dysfunctions and other health conditions, which can be the basis for some form of screening and early assistance programs for FSD.

Erectile disorder (ED) is the continuous or repeated inability to achieve an erection or maintain its firmness for an adequate amount of time during sexual intercourse. Given the importance of utilizing quality clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for the diagnosis of ED, the research team conducted a scoping review of erectile disorder CPGs to address the questions based on the clinical guideline of the best quality. This scoping review was conducted in five steps: 1 - identification of the research question, 2 - identification of relevant studies, 3 - selection of studies, 4 - data extraction, 5 - summarizing and reporting the results. The initial search yielded 1,888 articles, CPGs and books but after primary and secondary screening by two appraisers, 9 CPGs were extracted. After that, the two appraisers examined the quality of these guidelines using the AGREE II tool. Eventually, 5 CPGs extracted. After reviewing 5 guidelines, 5 questions were answered. Overall, the CPGs had desirable overlap in response to the marked questions; nevertheless, there were some differences in details too. This review shows that the first and foremost principle in examining the affected individuals is taking a complete detailed history, followed by a physical examination and use of relevant questionnaires to complete the information necessary to diagnose the problem. The next step is to perform routine lab tests; hormonal profiles may also be checked, and if necessary, special tests should be performed based on an individual\'s conditions.

Sexual dysfunction is common in patients with advanced cancer, although it is frequently belittled, and thus consistently underdiagnosed and untreated. Opioid analgesics remain fundamental and are widely used in cancer pain treatment. However, they affect sexual functions primarily due to their action on the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. Other mechanisms such as the impact on the central and peripheral nervous systems are also possible. The opioid-induced sexual dysfunction includes erectile dysfunction, lack of desire and arousal, orgasmic disorder, and lowered overall sexual satisfaction. Around half of the individuals taking opioids chronically may be affected by sexual dysfunction. The relative risk of sexual dysfunction in patients on chronic opioid therapy and opioid addicts increased two-fold in a large meta-analysis. Opioids differ in their potential to induce sexual dysfunctions. Partial agonists and short-acting opioids may likely cause sexual dysfunction to a lesser extent. Few pharmaceutical therapies proved effective: testosterone replacement therapy, PDE5 inhibitors, bupropion, trazodone, opioid antagonists, and plant-derived medicines such as Rosa damascena and ginseng. Non-pharmacological options, such as psychosexual or physical therapies, should also be considered. However, the evidence is scarce and projected primarily from non-cancer populations, including opioid addicts. Further research is necessary to explore the problem of sexuality in cancer patients and the role of opioids in inducing sexual dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is prevalent and has a negative impact on women\'s health, including sexual dysfunction. Recent review articles suggest improvement in Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and proportion of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) among women with obesity after bariatric surgery.
METHODS: We pooled data from 16 observational studies involving 953 women. The study outcomes were mean FSFI scores and proportion of FSD before and after bariatric surgery. We also sub-analyzed whether age and duration of follow-up affected these outcomes.
RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 39.4 ± 4.2 years. Body mass index (BMI) showed significant reduction postoperatively (p < 0.0001). Bariatric surgery led to significant improvement in total FSFI score (p = 0.0005), and all sexual domains except pain. Bariatric surgery reduced the odds of having FSD by 76% compared with those who did not undergo operation (OR 0.24, 95% CI = 0.17, 0.33, p < 0.0001). Our sub-analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in the proportion of FSD for patients <40 years of age. The improvement of total FSFI scores and reduction in proportion of FSD remained significant within the first 12 months after surgery. Univariate meta-regression showed that BMI was not a significant covariate for improvement of FSFI scores (β = 0.395, p = 0.1, 95% CI = 0.884, 0.095).
CONCLUSIONS: Bariatric surgery is shown to improve sexual function scores and prevalence of FSD. This is especially significant among women <40 years of age. This benefit remained significant within the first year after surgery. This appears to be an additional benefit for these patients.

BACKGROUND: A very small number of studies have indicated that azoospermia or negative testicular sperm extraction (TESE) outcomes are linked to depression or erectile dysfunction. However, the data are often weak, conflicting and gathered with non-validated questionnaires. Hence, we performed a cross-sectional study of 44 men with non-obstructive azoospermia. Levels of self-esteem and the quality of the couple\'s sex life and overall relationship were assessed with validated questionnaires before and after the TESE procedure as a function of the TESE outcome.
RESULTS: A positive TESE outcome (n = 24) was associated with a statistically significant increase in self-esteem (particularly with regard to family aspects), sexual health and couples\' adjustment quality. In contrast, a negative TESE outcome (n = 20) was associated with statistically significant decreases in self-esteem, erectile function, intercourse satisfaction, orgasmic function, couples\' adjustment quality and all aspects of the couple\'s relationship (consensus, cohesion, satisfaction and affection).
CONCLUSIONS: For men with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), negative TESE outcomes may have a negative impact on self-esteem and the quality of the couple\'s sex life and overall relationship. This should be borne in mind when counselling men with NOA and their partners to (ideally) help them to cope with and decrease the harmful impacts of azoospermia and negative TESE.
UNASSIGNED: INTRODUCTION: Quelques études concernant l’azoospermie ou les résultats négatifs de l’extraction de sperme testiculaire (TESE) montrent que ces résultats peuvent être liés à la dépression ou aux dysfonctions érectiles. Cependant, les données sont souvent faibles, contradictoires et recueillies à l’aide de questionnaires non validés. Nous avons donc réalisé une étude transversale auprès de 44 hommes atteints d’azoospermie non obstructive (ANO). Les niveaux d’estime de soi et la qualité de la vie sexuelle du couple et de la relation globale ont été évalués à l’aide de questionnaires validés avant et après la procédure TESE en fonction du résultat de la TESE. RéSULTATS: Un résultat positif de TESE (n = 24) a été associé à une augmentation statistiquement significative de l’estime de soi (en particulier en ce qui concerne les aspects familiaux), de la santé sexuelle et de la qualité de l’adaptation du couple. En revanche, un résultat négatif de TESE (n = 20) a été associé à une diminution statistiquement significative de l’estime de soi, de la fonction érectile, de la satisfaction des rapports sexuels, de la fonction orgasmique, de la qualité de l’adaptation du couple et de tous les aspects de la relation de couple (consensus, cohésion, satisfaction et affection).
CONCLUSIONS: Chez les hommes atteints d’ANO, une TESE négative peut avoir un impact négatif sur l’estime de soi et la qualité de la vie sexuelle et de la relation globale du couple. Il convient de garder cela à l’esprit lors du conseil aux hommes atteints d’ANO et à leurs partenaires afin de les aider (idéalement) à faire face aux impacts néfastes de l’azoospermie et de la TESE négative et à les réduire.