Introduction: Sexual dysfunctions are one of the most important problems affecting sexual health and are associated with low levels of quality of life.
Aim: To assess the sexual functioning in migraine patients and the sexual dysfunction that can be attributed to its preventive treatment.
Patients and methods: The patients attended in the headache units of two general hospitals who visited for the first time after being prescribed preventive treatment. They answered the Massachusetts General Hospital-Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (MGH-SFQ) and the Psychotropic-Related Sexual Dysfunction Questionnaire (SALSEX).
Results: The sample used in the study consisted of 79 patients (17 males, 62 females) aged 37.6 ± 9.1 years (range: 19-57 years), 31 (39.2%) of them with chronic migraine. As preventive treatment, 23 (29.1%) received beta blockers; 42 (53.2%) neuromodulators; 8 (10.1%), calcium antagonists; and 6 (7.6%), antidepressants. The MGH-SFQ detected diminished overall sexual satisfaction that was at least moderate in 24 patients (30.4%). SALSEX showed changes in sexual functioning that was attributable to the preventive treatment in 36 cases (45.5%), which only exceptionally appeared spontaneously. In patients with at least moderate dysfunction on the MGH-SFQ, the mean ages at the time of testing, the number of days with pain per month and the excessive use of medication for their symptoms were all higher (53.3% versus 46.7%; p = 0.03).
Conclusions: Simple sexual dysfunction screening tests often detect sexual dysfunctions in patients with migraine on preventive treatment and changes in their sex life that can be attributed to these drugs.
Title: Disfuncion sexual en pacientes migrañosos que reciben tratamiento preventivo: identificacion mediante dos tests de cribado.
Introduccion. Las disfunciones sexuales constituyen uno de los problemas mas importantes que afectan a la salud sexual y se asocian a bajos niveles de calidad de vida. Objetivo. Evaluar la funcion sexual en pacientes migrañosos y la disfuncion sexual atribuible al tratamiento preventivo. Pacientes y metodos. Pacientes atendidos en las consultas de cefaleas de dos hospitales generales que acudian a la primera visita tras prescripcion de un preventivo. Respondieron al cuestionario de funcionamiento sexual del Hospital General de Massachusetts (MGH-SFQ) y al cuestionario de disfuncion sexual secundaria a psicofarmacos (SALSEX). Resultados. Muestra de 79 pacientes (17 varones, 62 mujeres), de 37,6 ± 9,1 años (rango: 19-57 años), 31 (39,2%) de ellos con migraña cronica. Como tratamiento preventivo, 23 (29,1%) recibian betabloqueantes; 42 (53,2%), neuromoduladores; 8 (10,1%), antagonistas del calcio, y 6 (7,6%), antidepresivos. El MGH-SFQ detecto en 24 pacientes (30,4%) disminucion al menos moderada de satisfaccion sexual global. El SALSEX mostro cambio de la funcion sexual atribuible al tratamiento preventivo en 36 casos (45,5%), solo excepcionalmente manifestada de forma espontanea. En pacientes con disfuncion al menos moderada en el MGH-SFQ, eran significativamente mayores la edad media en el momento de la inclusion, el numero de dias de dolor al mes y el uso excesivo de medicacion sintomatica (53,3% frente a 46,7%; p = 0,03). Conclusion. La disfuncion sexual evaluada con sencillos test de cribado detecta con frecuencia disfuncion sexual en pacientes migrañosos en tratamiento preventivo y cambios en su vida sexual atribuibles a estos farmacos.