Sexual Dysfunction and its Incidence in Patients with Epilepsy

In patients treated for epilepsy, the incidence of sexual dysfunction (SD) is reported at between 20% and 60%. SD incidence is influenced by seizure type (generalized, partial), level of compensation, the effect of antiepileptic therapy and other factors. A higher incidence of SD is reported in patients with partial seizures, in poorly compensated patients and in patients on multiple antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of SD in patients with epilepsy and a control group (CG). In patients with epilepsy, the influence of seizure type, degree of compensation and number of AEDs on SD incidence were also assessed. The sample consisted of 78 patients with epilepsy (31 men, 47 women), aged 22 to 72 years, mean 39.9 +/- 12.5 years. The control group comprised 37 people without epilepsy, aged 21 to 52 years, mean 32.6 +/- 7.3 years. All patients and members of the control group completed a short version of the international questionnaire of sexual function and if the result indicated a possible occurrence of SD, they completed the full questionnaire. The statistical analysis used Fisher's exact test and the chi(2) test. In the groups studied, SD occurred in 60% of all epilepsy patients compared with 27% in the control group (p = 0.001). In patients with epilepsy, the occurrence of SD was higher in those with partial epileptic seizures, those with compensated epilepsy and in patients treated with 0-1 AEDs. However, these differences was not statistically significant. The present study demonstrated a significantly higher occurrence of SD in patients with epilepsy compared to the control group.