Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sexual and Relationship Functioning in Men with Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome and Their Partners

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study compared the sexual and relationship functioning of 38 male patients with Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CP/CPPS) to that of their female partners, and of both the men and women in these couples to those in 37 control couples. Male sexual function was also examined as a predictor of partner sexual function. In comparison to control males, the men with CP/CPPS reported significantly more sexual dysfunction and symptoms of depression. Furthermore, symptoms of depression mediated the relationship between some aspects of sexual function and male participant status as a patient or control. However, men with CP/CPPS did not report significantly decreased sexual satisfaction or relationship functioning compared to controls. Partners of men with CP/CPPS reported significantly more pain upon intercourse, vaginismus, and depressive symptoms when compared to control females. In addition, patients with CP/CPPS and their partners did not differ significantly from each other with regard to sexual functioning and satisfaction, relationship functioning, and symptoms of depression. Patient sexual functioning significantly predicted female partner sexual functioning. This study was the first to evaluate partners of men with CP/CPPS. Patients and partners in this study reported lower levels of sexual functioning in some domains, yet were comparable to control couples on measures of satisfaction and relationship functioning. Furthermore, the sexual and relationship functioning of patients and partners was significantly associated. The results of this study have implications for the assessment and management of CP/CPPS and for future research in this area.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahern, D. C., Adams, A. E., & Follick, M. J. (1985). Emotional and marital disturbance in spouses of chronic low back pain patients. Clinical Journal of Pain, 1, 69–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, R. B. (1999). Evaluation of the patient. In J. C. Nickel (Ed.), Textbook of prostatitis (pp. 179–186). Oxford: Isis Medical Media.

  • Bair, M. J., Robinson, R. L., Katon, W., & Kroenke, K. (2003). Depression and pain comorbidity: A literature review. Archives of Internal Medicine, 163, 2433–2445.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical consideration. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173–1182.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beerlage, H. P., & de la Rosette, J. J. M. C. H. (1999). Psychological aspects of prostatitis. In J. C. Nickel (Ed.), Textbook of prostatitis (pp. 165–167). Oxford: Isis Medical Media.

  • Bergeron, S., Binik, Y. M., Khalifé, S., Pagidas, K., Glazer, H. L., Meana, M., et al. (2001). A randomized comparison of group cognitive-behavioral therapy, surface electromyographic biofeedback, and vestibulectomy in the treatment of dyspareunia resulting from vulvar vestibulitis. Pain, 91, 297–306.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berghuis, J. P., Heiman, J. R., Rothman, I., & Berger, R. E. (1996). Psychological and physical factors involved in chronic idiopathic prostatitis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 41, 313–325.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Byers, E. S., & Grenier, G. (2003). Premature or rapid ejaculation: Heterosexual couples’ perceptions of men’s ejaculatory behavior. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 32, 261–270.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cano, A., Johansen, A. B., Leonard, M. T., & Hanawalt, J. D. (2005). What are the marital problems of chronic pain patients? Current Pain and Headache Reports, 9, 96–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cayan, S., Bozlu, M., Canpolat, B., & Akbay, E. (2004). The assessment of sexual functions in women with male partners complaining of erectile dysfunction: Does treatment of male sexual dysfunction improve female partner’s sexual functions? Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 30, 333–341.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Egan, K. J., & Krieger, J. L. (1994). Psychological problems in chronic prostatitis patients with pain. Clinical Journal of Pain, 10, 218–226.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, W. A., Rosen, R. C., Eardley, I., Sand, M., & Goldstein, I. (2005). Sexual experience of female partners of men with erectile dysfunction: The Female Experience of Men’s Attitudes to Life Events and Sexuality (FEMALES) study. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2, 675–684.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Flor, H., Turk, D. C., & Scholtz, O. B. (1987). Impact of chronic pain on the spouse: Marital, emotional and physical consequences. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 31, 63–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frank, E., Anderson, C., & Rubenstein, D. (1978). Frequency of sexual dysfunction in "normal" couples. New England Journal of Medicine, 299, 111–115.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, I., Fisher, W. A., Sand, M., Rosen, R. C., Mollen, M., Brock, G., et al. (2005). Women’s sexual function improves when partners are administered Vardenafil for erectile dysfunction: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2, 819–832.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hartman, L. M. (1980). The interface between sexual dysfunction and marital conflict. American Journal of Psychiatry, 137, 576–579.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hyde, J. S., DeLamater, J. D., & Byers, E. S. (2004). Understanding human sexuality. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keltikanagas-Jarvinen, L., Jarvinen, H., & Lehtonen, T. (1981). Psychic disturbances in patients with chronic prostatitis. Annals of Clinical Research, 3, 45–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleinplatz, P. J. (2004). Beyond sexual mechanics and hydraulics: Humanizing the discourse surrounding erectile dysfunction. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 44, 215–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krieger, J. N., Riley, D. E., Cheah, P. Y., Liong, M. L., & Yuen, K. H. (2003). Epidemiology of prostatitis: New evidence for a world-wide problem. World Journal of Urology, 21, 70–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laumann, E. O., Paik, A., & Rosen, R. C. (1999). Sexual dysfunction in the United States: Prevalence and predictors. Journal of the American Medical Association, 281, 537–545.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liang, C.-Z., Zhang, X.-J., Hao, Z.-Y., Shi, H.-Q., & Wang, K.-X. (2004). Prevalence of sexual dysfunction in Chinese men with chronic prostatitis. British Journal of Urology International, 93, 568–570.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lobel, B., & Rodriguez, A. (2003). Chronic prostatitis: What we know, what we do not know, and what we should do! World Journal of Urology, 21, 57–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maruta, T., Osbourne, D., Swanson, D. W., & Hallwig, J. M. (1981). Chronic pain patients and spouses: Marital and sexual adjustment. Mayo Clinical Proctor, 56, 307–310.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mehik, A., Hellstrom, P., Sarpola, A., Lukkarinen, O., & Jarvelin, M.-R. (2001). Fears, sexual disturbances and personality features in men with prostatitis: A population-based cross-sectional study in Finland. British Journal of Urology International, 88, 35–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Metz, M. E., & Epstein, N. (2002). Assessing the role of relationship conflict in sexual dysfunction. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 28, 139–164.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Monga, T. N., Tan, G., Ostermann, H. J., Monga, U., & Grabois, M. (1998). Sexuality and sexual adjustment of patients with chronic pain. Disability and Rehabilitation, 20, 317–329.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nickel, J. C., Elhilali, M., & Vallancien, G. (2005). Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis: Prevalence of painful ejaculation in men with clinical BPH. British Journal of Urology International, 95, 571–574.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nickel, J. C., Nigro, M., Valiquette, L., Anderson, P., Patrick, A., Mahoney, J., et al. (1998). Diagnosis and treatment of prostatitis in Canada. Urology, 52, 797–802.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oldenhave, A. (1994). Some aspects of sexuality during the normal climacteric. In G. Berg & M. Hammer (Eds.), The modern management of menopause (pp. 605–615). Carnforth: Parthenon Publishing.

  • Phillips, R. L., & Slaughter, J. R. (2000). Depression and sexual desire. American Family Physician, 62, 782–788.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Preacher, K. J., & Leonardelli, G. J. (2001). Calculation for the Sobel test: An interactive calculation tool for mediation tests [Computer software]. Available from http://www.unc.edu/∼preacher/sobel/sobel.htm.

  • Radloff, L. S. (1977). The CES-D Scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reissing, E. D., Binik, Y. M., Khalifé, S., Cohen, D., & Amsel, R. (2004). Vaginal spasm, pain and behaviour: An empirical investigation of the reliability of the diagnosis of vaginismus. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 33, 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rizzo, M., Marchetti, F., Travaglini, F., Trinchieri, A., & Nickel, J. C. (2003). Prevalence, diagnosis and treatment of prostatitis in Italy: A prospective urology outpatient practice study. British Journal of Urology International, 92, 955–959.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, R., Jacobson, D. J., Girman, C. J., Rhodes, T., Lieber, M. M., & Jacobsen, S. J. (2002). Prevalence of prostatitis-like symptoms in a community based cohort of older men. Journal of Urology, 168, 2467–2471.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Romano, J. M., & Schmaling, K. B. (2001). Assessment of couples and families with chronic pain. In D. C Turk & R. J. Gatchel (Eds.), Psychological approaches to pain management: A practitioner’s handbook (pp. 346–361). New York: Guildford Press.

  • Rosen, R., Brown, C., Heiman, J., Leiblum, S., Meston, C., Shabsigh, R., et al. (2000). The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): A multidimensional self-report instrument for the assessment of female sexual function. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 26, 191–208.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, R. C., Cappelleri, J. C., & Gendrano, N. (2002). The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF): A state of the science review. International Journal of Impotence Research, 14, 226–244.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, R. C., Riley, A., Wagner, G., Osterloh, I. H., Kirkpatrick, J., & Mishra, A. (1997). The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF): A multidimensional scale for assessment of erectile dysfunction. Urology, 49, 822–830.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, R. C., Sneidman, S. N., Menza, M. A., Shabsigh, R., Roose, S. P., Tseng, L. J., et al. (2004). Quality of life, mood, and sexual function: A path analytic model of treatment effects in men with erectile dysfunction and depressive symptoms. International Journal of Impotence Research, 16, 334–340.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rust, J., & Golombok, S. (1985a). The GRISS: A psychometric instrument for the assessment of sexual dysfunction. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 15, 157–165.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rust, J., & Golombok, S. (1985b). The Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS). British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 24, 63–64.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, H., Wilbrandt, K., Ludwig, M., Beutel, M., & Weidner, W. (2005). Prostate-related pain in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. British Journal of Urology, 95, 238–243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shoskes, D. A., Landis, J. R., Wang, Y., Nickel, J. C., Zeitlin, S. I., Nadler, R., et al. (2004). Impact of post-ejaculatory pain in men with Category III Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome. Journal of Urology, 172, 542–547.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spanier, G. B. (1976). Measuring dyadic adjustment: New scales for assessing the quality of marriage and similar dyads. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 38, 15–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spanier, G. B. (1989). Dyadic adjustment scale. Toronto: Multi-Health Systems.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spence, S. (1997). Sex and relationships. In W. K. Halford & H. J. Markman (Eds.), Clinical handbook of marriage and couples intervention (pp. 73–105). New York: Wiley.

  • Whisman, M. A., Uebelacker, L. A., & Weinstock, L. M. (2004). Psychopathology and marital satisfaction: The importance of evaluating both partners. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72, 830–838.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wiegel, M., Meston, C., & Rosen, R. (2005). The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): Cross-validation and development of clinical cutoff scores. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 31, 1–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by an ancillary grant from the National Institutes of Health, DK-065174 and DK-065174 Suppl. K. B. Smith was supported by a postgraduate scholarship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). We thank Joe Downey, M.Sc., for his help with recruitment and the administrative aspects of the study, and Ricardo Flamenbaum, M.A., for his statistical expertise. Thanks are also extended to Deanne Simms, Ashley Soryal, Natalie Stechyson, and Christina Yager for their help with data collection. Portions of this work were presented by K. B. Smith, the recipient of the Student Research Award, at the 31st Annual Meeting of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR), Philadelphia, PA, March 2006. This paper stands in partial fulfillment of K. B. Smith’s M.A. requirements.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Queen’s University, 62 Arch Street, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada

    Kelly B. Smith, Caroline F. Pukall & Dean A. Tripp

  2. Department of Anaesthesiology, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

    Dean A. Tripp

  3. Department of Urology, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

    Dean A. Tripp & J. Curtis Nickel

Authors
  1. Kelly B. Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Caroline F. Pukall
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Dean A. Tripp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. Curtis Nickel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kelly B. Smith.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Smith, K.B., Pukall, C.F., Tripp, D.A. et al. Sexual and Relationship Functioning in Men with Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome and Their Partners. Arch Sex Behav 36, 301–311 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-006-9086-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-006-9086-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation