Sexual dysfunction is the inability to perform satisfactory sexual activity. It is estimated that 80% of men have erectile dysfunction in dialysis and 55% of women, difficulty in sexual arousal. Men may have decreased libido, erectile dysfunction and difficulty reaching orgasm. Women have difficulty in sexual arousal, decreased vaginal lubrication, dyspareunia, and difficulty achieving orgasm.

Assess sexual dysfunction in hemodialysis patients.

A Cross-sectional analysis conducted with a randomized sample of 100 subjects from a total of 521 hemodialysis patients (20%) of both genders. Data were collected through Kidney Disease Quality of Life - Short Form (KDQOL-SF).

Most patients were female (52%), mean age 55 ± 14 years. After KDQOL-SF, the most common complaint was lack of sexual activity (82.81%). Most patients are dissatisfied with sexual performance (59%). Among them, the more dissatisfied were women, 61% (36/59), p < 0.02, and patients under 65 years, 61% (36/59) p < 0.007. Among those who report being sexually satisfied, the majority were male (58.33%). We found that sexual dissatisfaction is more common in women. Among 52 female patients, 37 were dissatisfied (71.15%), whereas among men, we have 56.25% (27/48) of sexual dissatisfaction.

There is evidence of high prevalence of dissatisfaction in the hemodialysis patients sexual performances. Further studies are needed on their sexual function, as well as therapeutic interventions that may offer improvement in this negative scenario.