Sleep disturbances and sexual function among men aged 45-75 years in an urban area of Iran

Comparing the Strength of Associations Between Male Genital Problems and Mental Illnesses and Sleep Disorders

This study compares the rate of selected types of mental illnesses (stress, anxiety, depression) and sleep disorders (insomnia, sleep apnea) according to the status of eight male genital problems. Analyses utilize medical claims data for male employees aged 18 to 64 years of a large corporation, 2017 to 2021. Approximately 1,076 (7.3%) men per year have one or more genital problems. The most common being benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH; 3.8%) and then erectile dysfunction (ED; 1.7%). For BPH patients, the rate experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, or a combination of these is 0.96%, 6.2%, 5.3%, and 5.1%, respectively. Corresponding rates for ED are 1.5%, 7.2%, 5.9%, and 7.5%. For BPH patients, the rate experiencing insomnia, sleep apnea, or both is 3.1%, 22.7%, and 2.0%, respectively. Corresponding rates for ED are 1.2%, 20.6%, and 2.2%. Male genital problems positively associate with having one or more mental illnesses (stress, anxiety, depression), except for hydrocele, with ED and penis disorder having the strongest associations. Male genital problems also positively associate with having insomnia and/or sleep apnea, except for infertility and orchitis, with BPH and ED having the strongest associations. The positive associations involving BPH and ED with mental illnesses are each more pronounced in the younger age group (18-49 vs. 50-64). Similar results are seen in the models involving sleep disorders. Thus, comorbid male genital problems, mental illnesses, and sleep disorders exist, with the strength of associations unique to the male genital problem and sometimes modified by age.

Comparison of the effect of Ceratonia siliqua L. fruit oral capsule and vitamin E on semen parameters in men with idiopathic infertility: a triple-blind randomized controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVES

To compare the effect of oral Ceratonia siliqua (Carob) and vitamin E on sperm parameters in idiopathic infertile men.

METHODS

In this triple-blind randomized controlled trial study, fifty 20-45-year-old infertile men with idiopathic abnormal sperm parameters were selected among men referring to the infertility clinic of Al Zahra-Iran Hospital, and randomly allocated into two groups. The first group received Carob capsules, 500 mg, and the second group received vitamin E capsules three times a day for 90 days. The primary outcomes of this study were the sperm parameters (count, motility, and morphology).

RESULTS

After the intervention, the mean of sperm count increased from 49.08 to 60.22 million/mL in the carob vs. it increased from 47.64 to 58.88 million/mL in the vitamin E group (adjusted mean difference (aMD)=1.124 million/ml, 95% CI: -12.892 to 15.141). The mean sperm motility increased from 45.90 to 52.90% in the carob group but decreased from 55.23 to 38.10% in the vitamin E group (aMD=17.22%, 95% CI: 8.53 to 25.92). The mean sperms with normal morphology increased from 11.52 to 67.05% in the carob, and from 10.20 to 77.47% in the vitamin E group (aMD=-10.88%, 95% CI: -22.30 to 0.536). There was no serious side effect during the treatment course.

CONCLUSIONS

Taking 1,500 mg oral dose of Carob capsule per day for 90 days improved sperm motility but had no significant effect for improving morphology and count comparing to vitamin E capsule.

Prevalence of andropause among Iranian men and its relationship with quality of life

INTRODUCTION

Andropause is a complicated process in men's life which can negatively affect their quality of life in both physical and psychological dimensions.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of andropause among Iranian men age 40-85 years and its relationship with quality of life.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study among 393 men attending ten urban healthcare centers in Ilam province in southwestern Iran. Study participants were recruited using proportional random sampling. The Male andropause symptoms self-assessment questionnaire (MASSQ) and SF-12 were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 (Chicago, IL).

RESULTS

The mean (SD) of participants scores in MASSQ was 57.46 (17.56). Only 61 (15.5%) men were classified at "don't need testosterone" category based on MASSQ. There were significant associations between the eight aspects of HRQoL and the andropause severity (p < .001). Older age, lower education, having depression, coronary heart disease, and incontinence were associated with increased odds of andropause (p < .05).

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed findings of previous studies regarding andropause and its relationship with men's quality of life. Future studies in this topic are needed to discover all the factors that may influence men andropause.

Effect of education about andropause health on level of the knowledge and attitude of men referring to the education and training retirement center of Shiraz

Introduction and objective: With the world's older population continuing to grow, andropause (male menopause or late-onset hypogonadism) is considered as one of the most important issues of this era. In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of andropause health education on the level of knowledge and attitude of retired men.Methods: This controlled trial was conducted on 80 retired men (40 in intervention group, 40 in control group), who had been employed by the Department of Education, Shiraz, Iran. Data collection tool was a 38-item questionnaire, designed by the researcher, on participants' knowledge and attitude about andropause. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 22 and statistical tests such as independent and paired t tests were used.Findings: There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups before the intervention. There was a significant difference in knowledge and attitude scores in each group immediately and 1 month after the intervention. The mean score of knowledge in the intervention group increased from 2.92 ± 1.68 before to 16.22 ± 1.34 after the intervention, and the attitude score increased from 14.9 ± 1.08 to 28.52 ± 1.44. Comparison of the two groups and repeated score analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups over the time (p < .001).Conclusion: Educational intervention improved the knowledge and attitude of retired men toward andropause, which can have a positive impact on the timely recognition and proper treatment of the complications of andropause.

Investigating the sexual quality of life and its relationship with general health in older men in Iran

INTRODUCTION

Sexual problems in elder people are considered as a public health concern and can affect their overall health and quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the sexual quality of life and its relationship with general health in older men in the west of Iran.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study among 362 older men aged 60 years or older attending Comprehensive Health Care Centers in Ilam, Iran. Samples selected through Quota sampling method and simple random sampling. Data were collected using the Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire-Male and General Health Questionnaire-28.

RESULTS

The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of age was 69.9 ± 8.1 years. The mean ± SD score of sexual quality of life and general health of older men was 46.6 ± 14.6 and 19.2 ± 9.7, respectively. A positive and significant association was found between sexual quality of life and general health (P < 0.001, r = -0.41). Moreover, general health, age, sleep problems, and the level of education were the important predictors for sexual quality of life in elder men (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

According to the results, the sexual quality of life of participants was at a moderate level. Since only some factors influencing the sexual quality of life were ascertained, further studies are required to investigate all factors influencing older men's sexual quality of life.

Analgesic Medicinal Plants in Shahrekord, Southwest of Iran: An Ethnobotanical Study

Background:

Identification of indigenous medicinal plants, including the gathering of information regarding the uses of these plants can help find out their traditional pharmacological activities and their benefits for the community’s healthcare system. In this study, an ethnobotanical investigation was conducted in Shahrekord city, southwest of Iran to indicate the ethnobotanical knowledge about analgesic medicinal plants in the region and the methods of using them.

Materials and Methods:

To this end, plant antioxidants and analgesic medicinal plants were identified. For this purpose, a questionnaire was used to obtain indigenous knowledge from traditional therapists in Shahrekord regarding pain relief using medicinal plants. This ethnobotanical study was conducted in 2018 with the participation of 29 traditional therapists of the region under purpose. Finally, the data drawn from the questionnaires were analyzed using the Excel software. The frequency of plants use was also calculated.

Results:

Our study showed that in Shahrekord, 23 species of medicinal plants are used to relieve pain. The highest frequency of use was obtained for Eugenia caryophylata (44%), followed by Alhagi maurorum (31%), Tribulus terrestris (27%), and angustifolia (24%). The Laminaceae family (7 species) was the most frequently used plant family for pain relief. The most frequently used plant organ to relieve the pain was flower (25%), followed by the stem (22%) and leaves (19%).

Conclusion:

Given the high importance of medicinal plants in Shahrekord, the results of this study and additional scientific investigations can help produce more effective and less harmful drugs from medicinal plants.

[Sleep quality and sexual functioning in healthy adults]

INTRODUCTION

There are not enough scientific investigations, especially with a normative population, that show the association between sleep quality and sexual functioning.

METHOD

945 healthy individuals, 62% female, 38% male, mean age 34.27 years (standard deviation=15.82), who completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Portuguese version of the Oviedo Sleep Questionnaire and the Portuguese version of the Massachusetts General Health Hospital-Sexual Functioning Questionnaire entered this study.

RESULTS

Moderate levels of subjective satisfaction with sleep and low levels of insomnia and hypersomnia were observed. However, women suffer more from these forms of sleep disorders. Subjective satisfaction with sleep quality is positively correlated with overall sexual functioning and all of its dimensions, and insomnia is negatively correlated with sexual functioning and all of its dimensions. From the linear regression analysis, the model of prediction of general sexual functioning was tested according to sleep quality variables, and a statistically significant model was obtained (p <0.001), with the variables in question explaining 7% of general sexual functioning, with β values ??for subjective satisfaction with sleep of 0.189 and for insomnia of -0.140.

DISCUSSION

Based on the results obtained, it is possible to demonstrate that the higher the quality of sleep, the greater the sexual functioning, and that it is negatively influenced mainly by insomnia.

Effects of experimental sleep deprivation on aggressive, sexual and maternal behaviour in animals: a systematic review protocol

Objective

Because of the relevance for the research on sleep deprivation and human behaviour, many preclinical studies have been conducted on aggressive, sexual and maternal behaviours in this field. Considering the available data and the complexity of the factors involved, the most appropriate way to summarise the effects of sleep deprivation on these behaviours is through systematic reviews and meta-analyses. This article describes the protocol for three independent systematic reviews and meta-analyses, evaluating the effects of sleep deprivation on aggressive, sexual and maternal behaviours in animals.

Search strategy

A bibliographic search will be performed in four databases: Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science and Psychinfo, searching for three domains: sleep deprivation (as the intervention), animals (as the population) and behaviour (as the outcome).

Screening and annotation

Titles and abstracts will first be screened, followed by analysis of the full text and data extraction.

Data management and reporting

SYstematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation ’s risk of bias tool will be used to evaluate risk of bias; visual analysis of funnel plots, Egger’s regression and trim-and-fill will be employed to evaluate publication bias. Effect sizes will be calculated from the articles by either direct or standardised mean difference, depending on the nature of the data. Overall estimates will then be calculated using a random effects model. Heterogeneity will be assessed using both I² index and Cochran’s Q test. These meta-analyses should be useful to summarise the available data on the relationship between sleep deprivation and behaviour, providing a solid background for future behavioural sleep deprivation experiments, improving their validity.

Factors associated with sexual health and well being in older adulthood

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To provide an update of recent studies on factors associated with sexual well being in older people with a special focus on sexual activity, satisfaction and function.

RECENT FINDINGS

Most recent studies confirmed the relationship between mental health status, especially negative affect and depressive symptoms, and sexual health in older adulthood. However, when this relationship is investigated more deeply, it seems that in fact positive psychological well being (positive affect and quality of life) accounts for sexual activity rather than the lack of depressive symptoms. Moreover, recent studies provided more insight into the relationship between marital characteristics, religion, cognitive functioning and sleeping difficulties and different dimensions of sexual health in older adulthood.

SUMMARY

In summary, there is substantial previous research revealing associations between various psychosocial, health-related and demographic variables and sexual health in older adulthood. Most considered variables are, for example, age, sex, general physical and mental health. For future research, it is important to consider that relationships between specific variables and sexual health in higher age are usually more complex than they are expected to be and factors differ between different dimensions of sexual health. Communication about sexuality between health-care providers and older patients still implies a lot of barriers and lack of knowledge. Therefore, the provision of communication training for health-care providers to older people in which knowledge is gained about correlates of sexual health in older adulthood should be implemented.

Subjective sleep quality, unstimulated sexual arousal, and sexual frequency

Introduction

REM sleep deprivation increases unstimulated erections in rats, and total sleep deprivation increases erections during audiovisual sexual stimulation in men, but the effects of sleep problems on human unstimulated sexual arousal are unknown.

Objective

We examined the associations of subjective sleep quality with unstimulated sexual arousal, satisfaction with sex life, and sexual frequency and desire over the past month.

Methods

275 Portuguese (169 women) reported their anxiety, sexual arousal and sexual desire during a resting state, and completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the sexual satisfaction subscale of the LiSat scale, the Desire dimensions of the Female Sexual Function Index (women only) and International Index of Erectile Function (men only). They additionally reported how many days in the past month they engaged in penile-vaginal intercourse, noncoital sex, and masturbation. Salivary testosterone (T) was assayed by luminescence immunoassays.

Results

Poorer sleep quality correlated with greater unstimulated sexual arousal in men with higher T levels and in women with higher T levels not taking oral contraceptives. In women with lower T, poorer subjective sleep quality correlated with greater sexual dissatisfaction. In both sexes, sleep quality was uncorrelated with sexual desire and sexual frequency over the past month.

Discussion

Consistently with other studies in humans and animals, the findings are congruent with the notion that lack of sleep can increase sexual arousal, but not sexual frequency. T might play a role in the sexual arousal caused by lack of appropriate sleep.