Sexual dysfunction is very common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Men with CKD frequently suffer from reduced libido, erectile dysfunction and difficulty reaching orgasm. Approximately 50% to 80% of men with CKD have erectile dysfunction and the prevalence has been found to increase with age. For women with CKD, 55% report difficulty with sexual arousal. Dysmenorrhoea, delayed sexual development, impaired vaginal lubrication, dyspareunia and difficulties in reaching orgasm are also frequently observed. Therapies that have been used to treat sexual dysfunction include phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i), intracavernous injections, intraurethral suppositories, hormonal therapy, mechanical devices and psychotherapy. Although many clinical studies and reviews have explored the role of these interventions for sexual dysfunction in patients without CKD, the effectiveness and safety of these interventions in patients with CKD have not yet been studied thoroughly. The aim of this review was to assess the benefits and harms of existing interventions for treating sexual dysfunction in patients with CKD.

We identified 15 studies enrolling 352 patients with only one study enrolling both men and women. Studies evaluated the effects of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i), zinc, vitamin E, vitamin D or bromocriptine compared to placebo. In two studies (101 patients) PDE5i significantly increased the individual domains and the overall International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) score and the complete 15-item IIEF tool (1 study, 41 patients). End of treatment testosterone levels were not significantly increased by addition of zinc to dialysate (2 studies, 22 patients) but oral zinc improved end of treatment testosterone levels (1 study, 20 patients). There was no difference in plasma luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormone levels at the end of the study period with zinc therapy. Little data were available for vitamin E, bromocriptine and dihydroxycholecalciferol in CKD patients and there were no studies of intracavernous injections, transurethral injections, mechanical devices or behavioural therapy in people with CKD.

PDE5i and zinc are promising interventions for treating sexual dysfunction in men with CKD however evidence supporting their routine use in CKD patients is limited. There is an unmet need for studying interventions for both male and female sexual dysfunction in CKD, considering the significant disease burden.