a page of a book with Parkingson's Disease highlighted in bold

Men's Health &
Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease has a negative effect on a man's sexual function and ability to gain and retain an erection. It is a disorder of the central nervous system, which starts with the brain and affects movement.

The condition gets progressively worse over time. The initial symptoms are tremors in one hand, followed by stiffness and reduction of movement. This affects the way Parkinson's disease sufferers walk and leads to a slurring of speech and distorted expressions of the face. Depression and Erectile Dysfunction are common in patients with Parkinson's disease.

 

 

 

 

a pensive man looking through a window with a hand on his head

Managing Sexual Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease

Because of depression, and non-motor symptoms, such as anxiety, doctors invariably suggest an anti-depressant to help manage this. Anti-depressants can be a major cause of sexual dysfunction, whilst conversely other drugs like dopamine agonists have the opposite effect of increasing sexual desire.

Men who suffer from Parkinson's disease also have to be careful about taking medication for Erectile Dysfunction, as this can cause a severe drop in blood pressure. A further drop in sex drive can be attributed to the levels of dopamine, a chemical in the brain, which is associated with many symptoms of Parkinson's disease.


 

 

 

?two men in suits, a patient and practitioner, talking face to face

Sexual Challenges in Parkinson's Disease

Wider sexual problems including Erectile Dysfunction, Peyronie's disease and Chronic Pelvic Pain syndrome are very common with Parkinson's disease. Most men can continue with sexual relationships, but with increased difficulty for them and their partner. Some of the issues faced by couples include:  

  • Stiffness, inflexibility, and slowness, making spontaneous and natural sex more difficult
  • Tremors and involuntary muscle movement which increase with sexual arousal
  • A reduction in sex drive and fatigue
  • Depression due to body image and functionality.

A range of treatment options for both Peyronie's Disease, Erectile Dysfunction and Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome exist and are covered extensively on this and our specialist websites.  At the core to our treatment protocols is focused shockwave therapy. This treatment is pain free and allows you to resume your normal routine immediately after treatment.

 

 

 

MansMatters is a Division of:

the logo for Shockwave Clinics - the parent company of MansMatters

Privacy PolicyTerms & Conditions