Sexual Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review of the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale Sexual Dysfunction in Parkinson Disease: A Systematic Review of the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale

Objective Parkinson's disease (PD) affects older individuals and can cause sexual dysfunction (SD). SD is a determinant of general well-being; but is infrequently assessed in professionally. The Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) measures SD; unlike other scales, it is minimally invasive and requires little time to complete. This review aimed to assess the prevalence of SD in patients with PD using ASEX. Methods Were searched the keywords, "sexual dysfunction," "Parkinson's disease" and "ASEX" in 9 databases. Results The prevalence of SD ranged from 65%-90%. SD was associated with older age at disease onset, higher Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale scores, age and depression (p ranged from .001 to <.05). The most observed SD was erectile dysfunction in men. Conclusion SD is common among patients with PD. ASEX, although not specific to PD, is an easy and quickly applied tool that can help evaluate SD and guide treatments in PD.