COPD and Sexual Health: What the Sexual Medicine Clinician Needs to Know

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a persistent condition in the lungs and airways, causing dyspnea, cough and excessive sputum production, along with systemic effects such as fatigue, energy loss and muscle weakness. 1 GOLD Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 2022. Google Scholar For a large proportion of the patients, the disease has considerable psychosocial consequences in terms of (i) symptoms of anxiety and depression, (ii) feelings of guilt and self-blame related to current or former smoking, and (iii) passivity and isolation tendencies. 2 von Leupoldt A Kenn K The psychology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2013; 26: 458-463 Crossref PubMed Scopus (40) Google Scholar The consequences are typically interrelated (eg, fear of dyspnea upon exertion is associated with avoidance of physical activity, social withdrawal and development of depressive symptoms), and altogether the illness therefore has a massive impact on patients’ physical, psychological and relational levels of functioning.