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Review
. 2021 Jun;10(6):2500-2511.
doi: 10.21037/tau-21-13.

Sexual dysfunction due to pudendal neuralgia: a systematic review

Fouad Aoun  1   2 , Marwan Alkassis  1 , Georges Abi Tayeh  1 , Josselin Abi Chebel  1 , Albert Semaan  1 , Julien Sarkis  1 , Raymond Mansour  1 , Georges Mjaess  1   3 , Simone Albisinni  3 , Fabienne Absil  4 , Renaud Bollens  5 , Thierry Roumeguère  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Sexual dysfunction due to pudendal neuralgia: a systematic review

Fouad Aoun et al. Transl Androl Urol. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

Background: The pudendal nerve is considered as the main nerve of sexuality. Pudendal neuralgia is an underdiagnosed disease in clinical practice. The aim of this systematic review is to highlight the role of pudendal neuralgia on sexual dysfunction in both sexes.

Methods: A PubMed search was performed using the following keywords: "Pudendal" AND "Sexual dysfunction" or "Erectile dysfunction" or "Ejaculation" or "Persistent sexual arousal" or "Dyspareunia" or "Vulvodynia". The search involved patients having sexual dysfunction due to pudendal neuralgia. Treatment received was also reported.

Results: Five case series, seven cohort studies, two pilot studies, and three randomized clinical trials were included in this systematic review. Pudendal nerve and/or artery entrapment, or pudendal neuralgia, is a reversible cause of multiple sexual dysfunctions. Interventions such as anesthetic injections, neurolysis, and decompression are reported as potential treatment modalities. There are no studies describing the role of pudendal canal syndrome in the pathophysiology or treatment of delayed ejaculation or penile shortening.

Discussion: Pudendal neuralgia is an underestimated yet important cause of persistent genital arousal, erectile dysfunction (ED), premature ejaculation (PE), ejaculation pain, and vulvodynia. Physicians should be aware of this entity and examine the pudendal canal in such patients before concluding an idiopathic cause of sexual dysfunction.

Keywords: Pudendal nerve; ejaculation; erectile dysfunction (ED); sexual dysfunction; sexuality.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/tau-21-13). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flow chart of the study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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