Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34295736›Full record

ReviewTranslational andrology and urology2021

Sexual dysfunction due to pudendal neuralgia: a systematic review.

Fouad Aoun, Marwan Alkassis, Georges Abi Tayeh, Josselin Abi Chebel, Albert Semaan, Julien Sarkis, Raymond Mansour, Georges Mjaess, Simone Albisinni, Fabienne Absil and 2 more

Open access · diamondAbstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Translational andrology and urology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
2.1field-weighted citation impact, top 13% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 20 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  6. Sex life and low back pain: The impact of intradiscal ozone therapy in patients with herniated lumbar disc.Interventional neuroradiology : journal of peritherapeutic neuroradiology, surgical procedures and related neurosciences · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 6 institutions in 2 countries.

Fouad AounUrology Department, Hôtel Dieu de France, Université Saint Joseph, Beirut, Lebanon.
Marwan AlkassisUrology Department, Hôtel Dieu de France, Université Saint Joseph, Beirut, Lebanon.
Georges Abi TayehUrology Department, Hôtel Dieu de France, Université Saint Joseph, Beirut, Lebanon.
Josselin Abi ChebelUrology Department, Hôtel Dieu de France, Université Saint Joseph, Beirut, Lebanon.
Albert SemaanUrology Department, Hôtel Dieu de France, Université Saint Joseph, Beirut, Lebanon.
Julien SarkisUrology Department, Hôtel Dieu de France, Université Saint Joseph, Beirut, Lebanon.
Raymond MansourUrology Department, Hôtel Dieu de France, Université Saint Joseph, Beirut, Lebanon.
Georges MjaessUrology Department, Hôtel Dieu de France, Université Saint Joseph, Beirut, Lebanon.
Simone AlbisinniUrology Department, Cliniques Universitaires de Bruxelles, Hôpital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
Fabienne AbsilUrology department, Centre Hospitalier EpiCURA, Site de Ath, Ath, Belgium.
Renaud BollensUrology department, Centre Hospitalier de Wallonie Picarde, Tournai, Belgium.
Thierry RoumeguèreUrology Department, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
Hôtel-Dieu de France · LBSaint Joseph University · LBCentre Hospitalier de Wallonie Picarde · BEEpicura · BEErasmus Hospital · BEInstitut Jules Bordet · BE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe 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.

methodsA 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.

resultsFive 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.

Indexed as

ejaculationerectile dysfunction (ED)Pudendal nervesexual dysfunctionsexuality

Identifiers

PMID34295736
PMCPMC8261452
OpenAlexW3168717592

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.