Endocrine Abstracts (2018) 56 P908 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.56.P908

Patient perspectives on sexuality in hypopituitarism

Ida Björkman^1, Jenny Tiberg Persson^2,^3, Eva Jakobsson Ung^1, Ann-Charlotte
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   Aim: The aim of the study was to explore patient perspectives on
   sexuality in hypopituitarism.

   Background: Hypopituitarism usually leads to a complete loss of sex
   hormones and the condition has a negative impact on sexuality. Previous
   research has mainly focused on erectile functioning in men and
   fertility issues in women but little is known about their sexual
   wellbeing and experiences of hypopituitarism in relation to sexuality.

   Design: An interpretative, qualitative methodology inspired by
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   Findings: Four themes emerged that describe experiences of an altered
   sexuality in hypopituitarism: Desire, fatigue and lack of initiative,
   Intimate relationships and love, lust for life and self-perception and
   a public and private silence surrounding sexuality.

   Conclusions: The altered sexuality included sexual functioning as well
   as wellbeing, which affected both self-perception and intimate
   relationships. The patient perspective on sexuality in hypopituitarism
   extends well beyond sexual functioning into issues of sexual wellbeing,
   intimate relationships, self-perception and cultural, gendered, norms.
   Nurses can aid patients in adapting to an altered sexuality but current
   health care practices focusing on sexual functioning and reproduction
   alone are insufficient.
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