Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41302084›Full record

ReviewLife (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Sexual Dysfunction in Traumatic Brain Injury: A Narrative Review and Call for Multidisciplinary Framework.

Ioannis Mavroudis, Foivos Petridis, Dimitrios Kazis, Gabriel Dăscălescu, Alin Ciobica, Ciprian Ilea, Sorana Caterina Anton, Emil Anton

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Life (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Ioannis MavroudisDepartment of Neuroscience, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, NHS Trust, Leeds LS1 3EX, UK.
Foivos PetridisThird Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.ORCID 0000-0002-5617-0346
Dimitrios KazisThird Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.ORCID 0000-0002-7319-2045
Gabriel DăscălescuDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Biology, "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iași, Carol I Avenue, No. 20A, 700505 Iași, Romania.ORCID 0009-0001-1962-7861
Alin CiobicaDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Biology, "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iași, Carol I Avenue, No. 20A, 700505 Iași, Romania.
Ciprian IleaFaculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iași, Romania.
Sorana Caterina AntonFaculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iași, Romania.
Emil AntonFaculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iași, Romania.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSexual dysfunction (SD) is a common yet under-recognized consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI), with significant implications for physical health, psychological well-being, interpersonal relationships and social reintegration. Although TBI research has largely focused on cognitive, motor and behavioral outcomes, the impact of SD remains insufficiently addressed in both clinical practice and rehabilitation programs.

objectivesThis review aims to synthesize current evidence on the prevalence, mechanisms and management of SD following TBI, while emphasizing the importance of gender-sensitive and multidisciplinary approaches to care.

methodsA narrative review was conducted by searching PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science for English-language articles published between 2000 and 2025 using combinations of the following keywords: traumatic brain injury, sexual dysfunction, neuroendocrine dysfunction, psychological sequelae and rehabilitation. Priority was given to peer-reviewed clinical studies, systematic reviews and expert consensus guidelines that addressed neurological, endocrine, cognitive, psychological and social aspects of SD in TBI survivors. Exclusion criteria included case reports with insufficient clinical detail and non-peer-reviewed sources. Articles were screened for relevance to both pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic strategies.

resultsThe etiology of post-TBI SD is multifactorial, involving direct neurological injury, hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction, emotional and cognitive impairments, as well as psychological challenges such as stigma and relationship strain. Men and women may present distinct symptom profiles; for instance, men more frequently report erectile dysfunction and hypogonadism, whereas women more commonly experience challenges with arousal, lubrication and psychological stress. Effective interventions include pharmacotherapy, hormone replacement therapy, psychotherapy and rehabilitative approaches designed to restore intimacy and quality of life. Optimal outcomes are achieved through multidisciplinary collaboration among neurology, endocrinology, psychiatry, psychology and rehabilitation medicine.

conclusionsSexual dysfunction should be recognized as a critical component of TBI sequelae rather than a secondary concern. Routine screening, gender-sensitive assessment and the integration of individualized, multidisciplinary care pathways are essential to improving patient outcomes. Advancing clinical awareness and standardization in this area holds the potential to significantly enhance the holistic recovery and reintegration of TBI survivors.

Indexed as

cognitive behavioral therapygender-sensitive approacheshormone replacement therapymultidisciplinary rehabilitationsexual dysfunctiontraumatic brain injury

Identifiers

PMID41302084
PMCPMC12653169

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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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.