Sexual function in men with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome in Latin America: 2024 cross-sectional study using the MSHQ

Sexual function in men with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome in Latin America: 2024 cross-sectional study using the MSHQ

Roby E. Franco-Gómez 1, 2 , Valentina Polanco-Parra 2, 3 , Mauricio A. Suárez-Henao 2, 4 , Jairo A. Jimeno-Orozco 2, 4

1 Especialización en Psiquiatría, Corporación Universitaria Salud Colombia, Ibagué, Colombia; 2 Semillero de Investigación en Sexualidad Humana (SISH), Facultad de Ciencias para la Salud, Universidad de Caldas, Manizales, Colombia; 3 Facultad de Ciencias para la Salud, Universidad de Caldas, Manizales, Colombia; 4 Especialización en Sexología Clínica, Departamento de Salud Mental y Comportamiento Humano, Facultad de Ciencias para la Salud, Universidad de Caldas, Manizales, Colombia

*Correspondence: Jairo A. Jimeno-Orozco. Email: jairo.jimeno03@gmail.com

Abstract

Objective: To describe sexual function in Latin American men with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) using the Male Sexual Health Questionnaire (MSHQ). Method: An observational, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in Spanish- speaking men aged 18 years or older with a confirmed diagnosis of GBS and a minimum of 2 years since the acute episode. Data were collected through an online questionnaire that included the MSHQ, sociodemographic variables, and clinical information related to the course of GBS. Statistical analysis was descriptive and exploratory. Continuous variables were summarized using medians and interquartile ranges, while categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages. MSHQ domains were operationally grouped into lower and higher score categories using the sample median as the cutoff point. Results: Thirteen responses were received, of which nine met the inclusion criteria. The erectile, ejaculatory, and sexual satisfaction domains showed heterogeneous distributions, with no uniform pattern across participants. In addition, the supplementary MSHQ items revealed variability in sexual activity, sexual desire, and perceived level of bother. Conclusions: In this sample of men with a history of GBS, sexual function exhibited substantial interindividual variability in both functional and subjective components. These exploratory findings highlight the importance of incorporating sexual health into the comprehensive follow-up of individuals with prior GBS and underscore the need for future studies with longitudinal designs and larger sample sizes.

Keywords: Sexual dysfunction physiological. Male Sexual Health Questionnaire. Sexual health. Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Contents

Content available only in Spanish.

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Content available only in Spanish.

    DOI not available