Sexuality and partnership aspects in Parkinson's disease

In a retrospective, non-randomised cross-sectional study the influence of P arkinson's Disease (PD) on sexuality and partnership in 2099 affected membe rs of the German Parkinson Organization (dPV) were investigated. At an aver age age of 65, 330 women and 1008 men had been living in partnership for an average of 37 years. Not only sexual dysfunctions occurred both in affecte d women and men but also an evident reduction of sexual contentment on the whole. The affected patients mentioned specific symptoms of PD and medicati on as the decisive factors of influence on their sexuality. It was impressi ve that one single group of substances could influence sexual functions by increasing as well as decreasing them or having no influence at all. Furthe rmore different sexes in different genders became obvious. The information concerning their partnership situation given by both men and women shows th at communication in general, especially caressing and showing feelings, are reduced since diagnosis, whereas a desire for mutual intimicy prevails on the same level as before.