Sexual and Marital Relationships and Dialysis the Patient's Viewpoint

Abstract

This study of 133 patients of both sexes on hemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) focusses on the patient's viewpoint of their satisfaction with their sexual relationships, and asks whether this had changed since commencement of treatment. Patients also were asked about their marital satisfaction and their partner's feelings in relation to their sexual relationship.

This study shows that about half the patients reported a significant deterioration in their satisfaction with sexual relationships since starting dialysis. This deterioration was significant regardless of age, sex or mode of treatment. Patients ex pressed concern about this deterioration and felt that their partners were similarly concerned. Patients aged less than 60 years and all patients on hemodialysis expressed significantly more concern than those over 60 and those on CAPD.

Satisfaction with marriage was reported as good on dialysis and this response was not related to the reported sexual dysfunction on treatment.

All members of the multidisciplinary renal team, especially the social worker, should ensure that dialysis patients and their partners have access to appropriate psychosexual counselling by a trained sex counsellor as part of the overall treatment and counselling of dialysis patients.