The impact of male urinary incontinence on quality of life and sexual health

Abstract

Men with urinary incontinence problems may have a fear of urinary incontinence during sexual intercourse, which may negatively affect their sexual lives. This study aimed to determine the effect of urinary incontinence on quality of life and erectile dysfunction in men. A total of 203 men with urinary incontinence who presented to a urology outpatient clinic were assessed using a patient information form, the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-SF), and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). The mean age was 63.48 ± 8.80 years, the mean ICIQ-SF score was 13.45 ± 3.14 (moderate), and the IIEF erectile dysfunction score was 18.52 ± 6.48 (mild/moderate). Patient age correlated positively with the ICIQ-SF total score (r = 0.309, p < 0.001) and negatively with the IIEF total score (r = −0.452, p < 0.001). The ICIQ-SF score was negatively correlated with erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction and overall satisfaction scores (p < 0.001, p = 0.015, p = 0.037, p = 0.006 and p = 0.001, respectively). More severe urinary incontinence in men was associated with lower quality of life and greater erectile dysfunction. Further studies are needed to raise men's awareness of urinary incontinence.