Sexual dysfunction might be more common than thought among men with penile lichen sclerosus, a study suggests.

Results from a prospective study of 78 men with the condition presenting to a single UK male genital dermatosis clinic found most of the patients reported sexual difficulties when asked, although only three said it was the main reason for their presentation.

The finding prompted author Dr Manu Shah, from the Burnley General Teaching Hospital in Lancashire, to recommend doctors specifically ask all men with lichen sclerosus about sexual functioning, as they might be loathe to volunteer the information.

He found 82% of patients (mean age 52) experienced sexual difficulties, with 33 men reporting they were unable to have sex and 31 reporting they had significantly reduced sexual function.