[Medical Q&A] Will psoriasis affect sexual function in men?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Niu Jun Chief Physician of the General Hospital of the Northern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army

It may affect psoriasis patients and they may show more anxiety, tension, depression, mood swings, etc. These psychological changes may be related to sexual function.

A study used the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) to evaluate the sexual function of male psoriasis patients. The results showed that the total IIEF score of patients, namely the scores of erectile function, ability to reach orgasm, and sexual satisfaction, was significantly lower than that of the healthy control group; at the same time, as the severity of psoriasis (PASI score) of patients increased, the overall sexual function, sexual desire, and orgasm of male patients decreased accordingly.

The causes of sexual dysfunction in patients with psoriasis may be related to the following factors.

(1) Psoriasis is difficult to treat and prone to relapse, which can easily cause negative emotions in patients.

(2) Psoriasis rash occurs on exposed areas, which affects the patient's image.

(3) Rashes in the genital area can aggravate the patient’s sexual dysfunction.

(4) Poor personal psychological quality or misunderstanding of the disease.