Affiliations: [a] Sexual Medicine Center, Department of Urology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| [b] Movement Disorders Institute, Department of Neurology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| [c] Movement Disorders Unit, Neurological Institute, Tel-Aviv Medical Center, Israel
| [d] Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel
Correspondence:
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Correspondence to: Gila Bronner, Department of Urology, Sexual Medicine Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel. Tel.: +972 3 5305970; Fax: +972 3 5302990; E-mail: gila@gilabronner.com.
Abstract: People with Parkinson’s disease (PD) present with problematic sexual behaviors that are often misunderstood or ignored. Sexual problems in PD are part of a non-motor syndrome, and they play a prominent role in the life of affected individuals and their partners. Based on our considerable clinical experience, we describe four common types of sexual preoccupation behaviors in people with PD: (1) sexual behavior with underlying sexual dysfunction, (2) sexual desire discrepancy with partner after restored desire, (3) hypersexuality and compulsive sexual behavior, and (4) sexual behavior with underlying restless genital syndrome. We also suggest methods of assessing and diagnosing these sexual behaviors, and propose alternative possible treatments for people with PD and their partners/caregivers. Understanding these four behavioral types will assist healthcare professionals in explaining and educating people with PD and their partners, contribute to decreased stress and tension between them, and help them manage these sexual issues.
Keywords: Parkinson’s disease, sexual dysfunction, sexual preoccupation behavior, hypersexuality, compulsive sexualbehavior, restless genital syndrome, persistent genital arousal disorder, desire
