Male Sexual Function After Pediatric Kidney Transplantation-A Cross-sectional Nationwide Study

Abstract

Background: Data on adult sexual functioning after kidney transplantation (KTx) during childhood or adolescence are scarce.

Aim: To assess the long-term sexual and psychosocial quality of life after pediatric KTx.

Methods: 29 young men (median age 27.1 years) were examined 18.7 years (median) after KTx. 56 age-matched healthy men (median age 30.0 years) served as controls.

Outcome: We studied the influence of sociodemographics, previous renal replacement therapy, current reproductive hormonal serum levels, testicular size, and data on several validated mental and physical questionnaires on participants' Derogatis Interview for Sexual Functioning self-report scores.

Results: The KTx recipients had significantly poorer sexual functioning than their healthy peers. KTx men had less frequent sexual activity with a partner (P = .03) and poorer orgasms (P = .002) than the controls but no erectile dysfunction (P = .5).

Clinical implications: Depressive symptoms, relationship status, and longer dialysis duration predicted poor adult sexual functioning in KTx recipients, whereas age at transplantation or at the time of the study did not.

Strengths & limitations: This study contributes extended follow-up data to the very scarce literature on adult sexual functioning in pediatric KTx recipients. Relatively small population and low participation rate limit the comprehensive data interpretation in a population-based cohort of male KTx recipients.

Conclusion: Sexual functioning is often impaired in young men after pediatric KTx, emphasizing the need for long-term monitoring of sexual health and sexuality as important dimensions of quality of life. Tainio J, Jahnukainen T, Jalanko H, et al. Male Sexual Function After Pediatric Kidney Transplantation-A Cross-sectional Nationwide Study. J Sex Med 2020;17:2104-2107.

Keywords: Children and Adolescents; Kidney Transplantation; Late Effects; Long-Term Outcome; Sexual Function.