Sexual disorders in stroke patients compared with control subjects in Benin: A prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The genito-sexual disorders can be caused by stroke. These disorders often are silent even if they are at the heart of patient concerns. The objective was to study the sexual dysfunction in patients with stroke compared to control subjects.

MATERIAL/PATIENTS AND METHODS: We did a prospective descriptive analytical cross-sectional study in the department of functional rehabilitation of National university hospital center of Cotonou CNHU HKM. This study involved 134 subjects including 67 stroke patients dating back at least 6 months and 67 controls matched to cases by age and sex.

RESULTS: The male was marked with a sex ratio of 2.04. The mean age was 54.97±2.32 years, ranging from 23-72 years. The stroke was shown to be a potent risk factor of impaired sexual activity. It multiplies by 15 the risk of sexual dysfunction (OR=15; P<0.001) and 5 the risk of sexual inactivity (OR=4.63, P=0.002). The types of sexual dysfunction after stroke in men are: erectile dysfunction and ejaculatory dysfunction (premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation); in women: desire disorders, sexual arousal disorder, vaginal dryness, problems with orgasm and dyspareunia. Factors influencing sexuality after stroke in this case-control study are: the length of stroke, history of hypertension, treatment with antihypertensive and platelet antiaggrégants, absence of anxiety and occupation. To these factors add marital status involved in sexual inactivity.

DISCUSSION - CONCLUSION: The sexual disorders in stroke must be detected and taken care of in order to improve the quality of life of patients.