The effect of renal transplantation for end-stage renal disease on female sexual function and depression

Introduction: Studies have suggested that women with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) had higher risk of sexual dysfunction than healthy women.

Aims: To prospectively determine the effect of renal transplantation for ESRD on female sexual function and depression.

Methods: During a 5-year period, the study included 21 sexually active women who underwent renal transplantation for ESRD at a single university hospital. After obtaining demographic characteristics, female sexual function was evaluated with a detailed 19-item questionnaire (The Female Sexual Function Index, FSFI), and depression was assessed using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scale.

Main outcome measures: In all women, FSFI and BDI scores were compared before and after the renal transplantation surgery.

Results: The mean age of the women was 35.04 ± 9.6 years, and mean follow-up duration after renal transplantation was 27.5 ± 20.4 months. Mean total sexual function score increased from 17.57 ± 7.07 to 25.3 ± 3.28, revealing significant difference (P = 0.001). Compared with preoperative period, sexual function domains including sexual desire (P = 0.001), arousal (P = 0.001), lubrication (P = 0.003), orgasm (P = 0.001), satisfaction (P = 0.001), and pain (P = 0.02) significantly improved after renal transplantation. Mean BDI score significantly decreased from 17.91 ± 8.56 to 3 ± 4.17 after renal transplantation (P = 0.001).

Conclusions: Successful renal transplantation may improve female sexual functions and depression. Therefore, life quality increases as sexual functions and depression improve after the renal transplantation surgery.