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Sexuality in Young Adult Men Aged 18–24 with Epilepsy

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the extent of sexual dysfunction in young male patients (18–24 years) with epilepsy. Forty-five male patients with epilepsy aged between 18 and 24, and forty-four age- matched healthy male volunteers were included in the study. Participants completed a battery of self-reported tests (ASEX: Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale, HADS: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Demographic and clinical variables were recorded. Serum total testosterone was measured between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. in patients with epilepsy. Sexual function scores (sexual drive and penile erection) were higher in patients with epilepsy than those of the control group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively). The difference between the mean total ASEX scores, which were 13.9 and 11.4 in patients with epilepsy and controls, respectively, was significant (p = 0.009). HAD anxiety scores were significantly higher in patients with epilepsy than controls (p = 0.01) (Table 2). HAD-depression scores of both groups were similar (p = 0.09). This study demonstrates that young male patients with epilepsy have lower levels of sexual activity and drive and more erectile problems. Impaired sexual function is associated with anxiety scores.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey

    Erman Bagcioglu, Kerem Senol Coskun & Hasan Mayda

  2. Departments of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey

    Abdullah Acar

  3. Departments of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey

    Abdullah Akpinar

  4. Departments of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey

    Vedat Ali Yurekli

  5. Departments of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey

    Serdar Oruc

  6. Departments of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Rize, Turkey

    Bulent Bahceci

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  1. Erman Bagcioglu
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  2. Abdullah Acar
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  3. Kerem Senol Coskun
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Correspondence to Erman Bagcioglu.

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Bagcioglu, E., Acar, A., Coskun, K.S. et al. Sexuality in Young Adult Men Aged 18–24 with Epilepsy. Sex Disabil 31, 229–237 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-013-9303-y

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