(Book 130 – Part of the Handbook of Clinical Neurology, 3rd Series)
Editors: David B. Vodusek; and Francois Boller
Series Editors: Michael J. Aminoff; Francois Boller; and Dock F. Swaab
Publisher: Elsevier – 503 pages
Book Review by: Nano Khilnani

Discussion of sexual disorders remains extremely difficult for both patients and doctors, write two of the editors, Michael J. Aminoff and Dick F. Swaab in the Foreword. This is so even as sexuality, and the reproduction that it leads to, is critical to the survival of our species. Having children is also an important component of a fulfilled life for many people, they point out.

When Dick Swaab was in medical school, his professor did not accept the abbreviation NA (which stood for ‘no abnormalities’) referring to the reproductive tract of the patient. His professor told him he had simply not discussed in a professional way, possible issues relating to the urinary and reproductive parts of his patient. So NA really means ‘no attention,’ he pointed out to him as his student.

This book brings to the forefront the abnormalities, conditions, diseases, disorders, and dysfunctions of the reproductive and urinary system as affected by the human nervous system. These are found in patients with autonomic, central, peripheral, and somatic nervous system problems. Close attention is paid to the management and rehabilitation of neurologic patients with sexual and bladder dysfunction.

Forty-three specialists in neurologic disorders relating to sex and the urinary tract – mainly from Europe,  and a few from the Middle East, Asia and North America – authored the 27 chapters of this book. The writers are from: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.  The chapters are detailed below to give you an overview of the range of subjects covered in this volume:

  • Introduction
    • Introduction
  • Neural Substrate
    • Human sexual response
    • Anatomy and physiology of genital organs – men
    • Anatomy and physiology of genital organs – women
    • Anatomy and physiology of lower urinary tract
    • Human sexual behavior related to pathology and activity of the brain
    • Functional imaging of structures involved in neural control of the lower urinary tract
  • Approach to the Patient
    • Approach to the male patient with sexual dysfunction
    • Approach to the male patient with lower urinary dysfunction
    • Sexual and bladder comorbidity in women
  • Clinical Syndromes
    • Sexual dysfunction in patients with peripheral nervous system lesions
    • Lower urinary tract dysfunction in patients with peripheral nervous system dysfunction
    • Sexual dysfunction in patients with spinal cord lesions
    • Dysfunction of lower urinary tract in patients with special cord injury
    • Lower urinary tract dysfunction in patients with brain injury
    • Sexual function after strokes
    • Sexuality in patients with Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and other dementias
    • Relationship satisfaction and sexuality in Huntington’s disease
    • Lower urinary tract dysfunction in patients with Parkinsonism and other neurodegenerative disorders
    • Sexual dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis
    • Lower urinary tract dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis
    • Sexual dysfunction in patients with epilepsy
    • Genital and sexual pain in women
    • Management and Rehabilitation of Neurologic Patients With Sexual and Bladder Dysfunction
    • Management and rehabilitation of neurologic patients with sexual dysfunction
    • Management of male neurologic patients with infertility
    • Management, rehabilitation of neurologic patients with lower urinary tract dysfunction
    • Psychiatric disorders and sexual dysfunction

Presentation of material in the chapters is typically organized around the following components

  • Introduction: a paragraph on what issues are covered in the chapter     
  • Presentation and discussion of major topics
  • Presentation and discussion of subtopics
  • Conclusion: a paragraph summarizing what was discussed
  • References: a list of the sources of information used in the chapter, as well as those that can be referred to by the readers for further exploration and study

The following visual means, in black-and-white and color, as well as other types not listed below, are utilized in this book to aid in the understanding of material presented in the text:

  • Charts
  • Drawings
  • Radiographs
  • Sketches
  • X-rays

This is one of the most comprehensive texts available on how human nervous system disorders affect sexual and lower urinary tract functions.

 

Editors:

David B. Vodusek is affiliated with the Division of Neurology at University Medical Center in Ljubliana; and is on the medical faculty of that institution in Ljubliana, Slovenia.

Francois Boller is affiliated with the Department of Neurology at George Washington University Medical School in Washington, DC

 

Series Editors:

Michael J. Aminoff
Francis Boller
Dick F. Swaab