Association of JJ stent insertion and sexual function: A cohort study

Abstract

Background: Indonesia is known as one of the world’s stone belt areas in Asia. Management of urolithiasis cannot be separated with the role of JJ stent insertion. However, a limited number of prior studies show that a patient with JJ stent is at risk for sexual function disorder. This study aims to evaluate the association of JJ stent insertion with sexual function, both in men and women. Methods: This is a cohort study and the subjects were patients who had undergone JJ stent insertion in July - November 2017 at Kardinah Regional Hospital, Tegal, Central Java. This study was approved by the Research Ethic Committee of Kardinah Hospital (#445/3840/2017). Data were taken using standardized self-administered questionnaires before and after insertion of the JJ stent. Male sexual function was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) score, while female sexual function was assessed using Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Result: 60 male patients, with a mean of age 51.1 + 10.6 years, and 33 female patients, with mean of age 49.6 + 10.6 years old, underwent JJ stent insertion. A significant association was found in women before and after JJ stent insertion (p<0.05), with FSFI score 23.62 + 0.64 before insertion and 16.7 + 0.52 after insertion. A similar result was also found in men with total IIEF score 49.55 + 2.3 before JJ stent insertion and 38.4 + 1.7 after insertion. Conclusion: This study confirms that JJ stent insertion may cause a disturbance of sexual function. However, the mechanism is not clear yet.