Introduction:
Misophonia or selective ‘hatred of sound’ is a newly recognized mental disorder characterised by negative emotional reactions, feelings, and thoughts with or without impulsive behavior to specific irritating triggering sounds. The term misophonics has been used to refer to misophonia sufferers. A major effect reported by misophonics is a negative, or even ruinous, impact on close romantic relationships. The aim of our study was to evaluate the quality of sexual life (QoSL) in misophonics of both sexes and their close partners.

Material and methods:
We enrolled 91 misophonics aged 25.1 ± 5.4 years old (24 males and 67 females) and 91 opposite-sex partners aged 27.3 ± 4.9 years old. Their misophonia was confirmed by use of the Amsterdam Misophonia Scale (A-Miso-S) questionnaire. For evaluation of the QoSL in male misophonics, we used the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and the Sexual Quality of Life–Male (SQoL-M) self-report questionnaires. For female misophonics we used the self-report questionnaire Sexual Quality of Life–Female (SQoL-F) and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). For comparison, the total scores from the misophonics were compared with scores from controls, who were healthy peers (91 males and 91 females who were loving couples) without misophonia.

Results:
We found that the total SQoL-F scores in female misophonics were statistically lower than in controls (62.7 ± 3.5 vs 89.4 ± 4.7 in controls, p = 0.004). In males with misophonia, the SQoL-M total score was 38.3 ± 4.2 vs 60.7 ± 4.6 in controls (p = 0.002), while IIEF total scores were correspondingly 40.6 ± 5.8 and 68.1 ± 6.3 (p = 0.001). Erectile function score in males with misophonia was 16.3 ± 2.4 vs 27.2 ± 2.8 in controls (p = 0.003). Partners of misophonics of both sexes also demonstrated decreased scores in total IIEF, SQoL-M, SQoL-F, and FSFI. In female partners of misophonic males, SQoL-F total score was 71.4 ± 4.6 vs 89.4 ± 4.7 in controls (p = 0.007). Erectile function score in male partners of misophonic females was 20.1 ± 3.2 vs 27.2 ± 2.8 in controls (p = 0.015). In misophonics of both sexes who had comorbid mental disorders, the scores that characterized QoSL were even lower.

Conclusions:
Misophonia decreases the quality of sexual life in sufferers of both sexes as well as their partners.