Altered sexual and reproductive functions in epileptic men taking carbamazepine.

INTRODUCTION: Epileptic men may experience hormonal changes that may alter semen quality and sexual function. Alterations in male sexual and reproductive parameters may also be due to treatment with antiepileptic drugs to control seizures. AIMS: To evaluate serum hormone concentrations, semen quality, the frequency of sexual intercourse (FSI), and erectile function in men with epileptic seizures controlled by carbamazepine (CBZ). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The five-question form of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), and semi-structured questionnaire. METHODS: One hundred and eighteen men, aged 18-45 years, were included in this controlled, cross-sectional study: 63 men taking CBZ (epileptic group) were compared to 55 healthy men (control group). Blood sample was collected to determine hormones concentrations. Erectile function and the frequency of sexual relations were assessed by using questionnaires. Sperm morphology was analyzed by examining the quality of the head, intermediate part and tail of the spermatozoa. RESULTS: Using the IIEF-5, we observed a significant association between erectile dysfunction (ED) and groups (P < 0.01), where epileptic men had 17.33 (95% CI 3.59, 83.52) odds to have erectile dysfunction. Adjusted odds ratio to group considering luteinizing hormone, prolactin, Serum total testosterone, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione levels and free androgen index, we observed only group effect where epileptic men had 10.47 (95% CI 2.75, 39.83) odds to have FSI < 3 times a week. Sperm vitality was altered in 27% of the epileptic subjects compared with 5.4% of the control group (P < 0.002). Sperm motility differed significantly between groups, with A + B motility ≤50% observed in 98.4% of the epileptic group and in 85.4% of the control group (P < 0.01). Sperm morphology <14% was observed in 93.7% of the epileptic men, compared with 34.6% of the controls (P < 0.001). CBZ users, showed less sexual intercourse then controls (P ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Epileptic men taking CBZ present with changes in hormonal levels, altered semen quality, ED, and a reduction in coital frequency.

Avaliaçäo da adesäo ao tratamento de mulheres climatéricas em hospital universitário / Evaluation of the adherence to the treatment of climacteric women at an university hospital

A terapia de reposiçäo hormonal vem sendo aplicada de maneira universal porém pouco uniforme nos últimos 15 anos e muitas säo as dificuldades para alcançar um grau de adesäo aceitável. Destacam-se como fatores influentes os sócio-econômico-demográficos, a relaçäo médico-paciente e os efeitos colaterais. Tendo em vista os poucos dados existentes em nosso meio, este estudo objetivou avaliar a adesäo à terapia de reposiçäo hormonal e ao seguimento climatérico em um grupo de mulheres na pós menopausa. 323 pacientes na pós menopausa foram estudadas, sendo que 237 receberam algum tipo de reposiçäo hormonal (esquemas seqüenciais e contínuos: oral, transdérmicos ou vaginal) e 86 pacientes foram oferecidas medidas de suporte. Avaliaram-se os principais sintomas, a taxa de adesäo e os efeitos colaterais ao longo de 5 anos de seguimento. Comparou-se a adesäo ao tratamento entre os grupos estudados e naquele que utilizou reposiçäo hormonal comparou-se diferentes tipos de esquemas entre si. Houve queda progressiva e continuada da taxa de adesäo ao tratamento proposto, sendo observado que apenas 6 por cento das pacientes continuaram o seguimento após o período de estudo. Näo houve diferenças entre os grupos que utilizaram reposiçäo hormonal com o que näo utilizou. O seguimento a pacientes climatéricas sofre inúmeras influências que geralmente conduzem ao abandono do tratamento, sobressaindo neste estudo as dificuldades sócio-econômicas. Várias medidas e estratégias clínicas podem conduzir ao aumento da adesäo e menores índices de abandono.