Altuğ GÜNER, Sümeyye Tuna GÜNER, Taner DANDİNOĞLU, Olgun DENİZ, Alev ALP, Lale ALTAN
Anatolian Current Medical Journal - 2026;8(4):725-732
Aims: To investigate sexual dysfunction in male patients with axial spondyloarthritis and to identify clinical factors associated with erectile dysfunction (ED). Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 69 male patients with axial spondyloarthritis and 40 age-matched healthy male controls. Associations between ED and clinical factors, including disease activity, functional status, spinal mobility, neuropathic pain features and treatment modalities were evaluated. Results: ED was significantly more frequent and more severe in patients with axial spondyloarthritis than in healthy controls. Sexual desire was also significantly lower in the patient group. Among patients with axial spondyloarthritis, those with ED had poorer disease-specific quality of life, more prominent neuropathic pain features and greater spinal mobility limitation. Erectile function (EF) was negatively correlated with functional impairment, reduced spinal mobility and poorer quality of life. Although several variables were associated with ED in univariate analyses, none remained independently significant in the multivariable model, suggesting that ED may reflect the cumulative impact of multiple interrelated domains of disease burden rather than a single isolated factor. Conclusion: Sexual dysfunction appears to be a common and multifactorial problem in male patients with axial spondyloarthritis, reflecting the broader impact of functional limitation, pain-related features, and reduced quality of life rather than inflammatory activity alone. These findings underscore the clinical value of incorporating sexual health assessment into routine care as part of a more holistic and patient-centered approach to management.
