Evaluation of sexual functions in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate sexual function scores in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media.Patients and Methods: A total of 35 patients (20 male, 15 female) who had purulent discharge in one or both ears for at least threemonths and were diagnosed with chronic otitis media were included in the study group, while 30 volunteers (15 males, 15 females)who had no problem with their ears were included in the control group. Patients and controls underwent otolaryngology and urologyexaminations; female participants were asked to fill the female sexual function index and male participants were asked to accomplishthe international index of erectile function. Pure tone audiometry, tympanometry and speech discrimination tests were applied on allparticipants.Results: A significant difference was found between patients and controls in terms of scores for the subscales sexual desire(p=0.044), erectile function (p=0.012), and overall satisfaction (p=0.002) of the international index of erectile function in males.No significant difference was found between both groups in terms of other subscale scores (p>0.05). A significant difference wasfound (p<0.05) between patients and controls in terms of scores for the subscales orgasm (p=0.004), satisfaction (p=0.007), desire(p=0.020), arousal (p=0.002), and lubrication (p=0.015) in the female sexual function index. No significant difference was found(p>0.05) between both groups only in the subscale pain (p=0.450).Conclusion: Chronic otitis media also negatively affected sexual function scores and it should also be examined from this aspect.