Sexual health and function in liver disease.

Elliot B Tapper, Alberto Ferrarese, Patrizia Burra, Ivonne Hurtado Díaz de León

Journal: Hepatology communications 2025;9(4):

PMID: 40178496

Free Full Text on PubMed Central View on PubMed

Abstract

Sex is a central aspect of human life and is significantly impacted by chronic illness. Cirrhosis, due to its unique pathophysiology and the side effects of common therapies, serves as a paradigmatic example, being associated with very high rates of sexual dysfunction in both men and women. Liver transplantation can modify certain hormonal and pathophysiological aspects related to sexual dysfunction, but complete recovery occurs in only a relatively small percentage of patients. This review examines the pathophysiology, epidemiology, and management of sexual and reproductive dysfunction in patients with cirrhosis and those undergoing liver transplantation. It provides a framework for understanding the sources of dysfunction, tools for identifying it in clinical settings, and interventions to improve sexual health and functioning in these patients.

Address: Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Gastroenterology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, Padua University Hospital, Padua, Italy.; Department of Gastroenterology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico.; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

DOI: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000691

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MeSH Terms: Humans, Sexual Health, Liver Transplantation, Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological, Female, Male, Liver Cirrhosis, Liver Diseases