Bruxism, Pelvic Pain, Erectile Dysfunction, and Anxiety in Young Adult Men

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Questionnaire and Physical Exam: 20 mins questionnaire survey

Study summary

Bruxism is a parafunctional activity characterized by clenching or grinding of the teeth during wakefulness or sleep. Increasing evidence suggests that bruxism is not only related to orofacial structures but may also be associated with broader musculoskeletal and psychosocial conditions. Emerging literature indicates that central sensitization, stress, and anxiety may contribute to both bruxism and chronic pain conditions. However, the potential relationship between bruxism and pelvic health outcomes has not been sufficiently investigated.

Pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction, are multifactorial conditions that may involve neuromuscular, psychological, and autonomic mechanisms. Considering the shared mechanisms related to muscle hyperactivity, stress responses, and central pain modulation, bruxism may be associated with pelvic pain symptoms and sexual dysfunction in men. Additionally, anxiety is recognized as a common contributing factor in both bruxism and pelvic floor dysfunction.

The aim of this cross-sectional study is to investigate the association between bruxism, pelvic pain, erectile dysfunction, and anxiety levels in young adult men. Participants will be assessed using validated self-report questionnaires to evaluate bruxism symptoms, pelvic pain complaints, erectile function, and anxiety levels. Understanding the potential relationship between these variables may contribute to a more comprehensive biopsychosocial understanding of male pelvic health and may help guide future multidisciplinary assessment and management strategies.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Bruxism Assessment — 6 months
  Bruxism will be assessed using self-report questions addressing both awake bruxism and sleep bruxism behaviors. Participants will report the presence and frequency of teeth clenching or grinding during wakefulness or sleep within the past six months. Pain related to bruxism will be evaluated using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) ranging from 0 to 10, where: 0 represents no pain 10 represents the worst imaginable pain Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity associated with bruxism.
• Jaw Function Assessment — 6 months
  Jaw functional limitations will be assessed using the Jaw Functional Limitation Scale-20 (JFLS-20). This instrument evaluates functional limitations in three domains: Mastication Jaw mobility Verbal and emotional expression Each item is scored on a 0-10 numeric rating scale, where: 0 indicates no limitation 10 indicates severe limitation The total score is calculated as the mean of the items within each domain or across all items. Higher scores indicate greater functional limitation.
• Chronic Prostatitis / Chronic Pelvic Pain Symptoms — 6 months
  Pelvic pain symptoms will be assessed using the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI). The NIH-CPSI includes 9 items across three domains: Pain (0-21) Urinary symptoms (0-10) Quality of life impact (0-12) The total score ranges from 0 to 43, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms related to chronic prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome. The validated Turkish version of the NIH-CPSI will be used (Coşkun et al., 2021).

Trial sites (1)

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