PURPOSE: The primary aim was to carry out a pilot study to compare the loss of sexual libido between a group of Lyme disease patients and a group of matched controls. The secondary aim was to evaluate whether loss of libido in Lyme disease patients is associated with urinary bladder detrusor dysfunction. METHODS: A group of 16 serologically positive Lyme disease patients and 18 controls were queried directly about loss of libido. RESULTS: The 2 groups were matched with respect to age, sex, body mass index, and mean arterial blood pressure. None of the 34 subjects was taking medication that might affect sexual libido or had undergone a previous operative procedure involving the genitourinary tract. Of the 16 Lyme disease patients, 8 (50%) had no loss of libido, and of the 18 controls, none had loss of libido (P<0.001). In the Lyme disease patient group, there was no statistically significant relationship between loss of libido and urinary bladder detrusor dysfunction (P=0.61). CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study suggested an association between Lyme disease and loss of libido. Moreover, this loss of libido did not seem to be associated with urinary bladder detrusor dysfunction. Given these results, we recommend further studies to confirm the association.
Arterial Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Humans ; Libido* ; Lyme Disease* ; Pilot Projects ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic

PURPOSE: Symptoms of urinary bladder detrusor dysfunction have been rarely reported in Lyme disease. The aim was to carry out the first systematic study to compare the prevalence of such symptoms in a group of Lyme disease patients and a group of matched controls. METHODS: A questionnaire relating to detrusor function was administered to 17 serologically positive Lyme disease patients and to 18 control subjects. RESULTS: The two groups were matched in respect of age, sex, body mass, and mean arterial blood pressure. None of the 35 subjects was taking medication which might affect urinary function and none had undergone a previous operative procedure on the lower urinary tract. Six of the Lyme patients (35%) and none of the controls (0%) had symptoms of detrusor dysfunction (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This first systematic controlled study confirms that Lyme disease is associated with urinary bladder detrusor dysfunction. Further evaluation of detrusor function is warranted in this disease.
Arterial Pressure ; Humans ; Lyme Disease ; Prevalence ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Tract