Female Sexual Dysfunction and Pelvic Floor Muscle Function Associated with Systemic Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Only a few studies have addressed sexual health in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study aimed to compare female sexual function and pelvic floor muscle function in SSc patients with healthy controls (HC) matched by age, and to identify the potential implications of clinical features on sexual function. Our cohort included 90 women with SSc and 90 HC aged 18–70 years that completed six well-established and validated questionnaires assessing sexual function (Brief Index of Sexual Function for Women, Female Sexual Function Index, Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire–Female, Sexual Function Questionnaire) and pelvic floor function (Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire–Short Form 7 and Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire Short Form). Results from women with SSc and HC were contrasted and correlated with relevant clinical features. The prevalence of female sexual dysfunction was 73% in SSc patients (vs. 31% in HC). Women with SSc reported significantly worse pelvic floor function and sexual function than HC. Impaired sexual function was correlated with higher disease activity, the presence of dyspnea and interstitial lung disease, increased systemic inflammation, reduced physical activity, functional disability, more severe depression, more pronounced fatigue, and impaired quality of life. We demonstrate that sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent among women with SSc. This aspect of the disease deserves more attention both in clinical care and at the level of international research collaboration.

Does Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction Differ Among the Most Common Causes of Infertility? A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Sexuality as a fundamental component of women’s health, can be affected by infertility. The current study aimed at comparing the prevalence of sexual dysfunction among women with the most common causes of infertility. Methods The current cross-sectional study was conducted on 240 infertile females with infertility due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS, n=80), endometriosis (n=80) and male factor (n=80) at Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine (Tehran, Iran) and 160 fertile women at health care centers, between May 2016 and June 2017. Sexual function was assessed by Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 25.00) and differences were regarded statistically significant at p < 0. 05. Results The prevalence of female sexual dysfunction was 98.8% in women with PCOS, 100.0% in those with endometriosis, and 80.0% in those with male factor infertility. Overall, 36.2% of the enrolled fertile women were suffering from sexual dysfunction. Conclusions There was an association between the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction or individual domain scores of the FSFI, and infertility etiologies. Therefore, infertility care providers are required to take this into consideration and develop preventive strategies in this regard.

Effect of Female Sexual Dysfunction on Self- Esteem of Infertile Women in Osun East Senatorial District Southwest Nigeria

This study assessed the effect of sexual Dysfunction on the self-esteem between infertile and fertile married women in Ife East Senatorial district Southwest Nigeria. This was a comparative cross-sectional study using both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. It was conducted at infertility and family planning clinics of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Using stratified random sampling, 222 infertile women at infertility clinic and 222 family planning clients who met inclusion criteria were recruited from 2020 to 2021. Quantitative data was assessed using the Rosenberg self-esteem questionnaire, while an in-depth interview guide was employed to collect qualitative data. Data were managed using SPSS version 22. P-value was set at P <0.05. Fifty (22.5%) infertile women had low self-esteem compared with five (2.3%) of fertile women. which was statistically significant (P<0.001). Among fertile women, female sexual Dysfunction did not affect self-esteem (P=0.346), but among infertile women, female sexual Dysfunction significantly affected self–esteem (P=0.016). There is a positive relationship between female sexual function index scores and self-esteem scores among fertile and infertile women (r= 0.294 and 0.354 respectively) p<0.001 Sexual dysfunctions among infertile women adversely affected their self-esteem.

Female Sexual Dysfunction before and after Diagnosis of Infertility

This study determined the prevalence, domain, and predictors of sexual dysfunction among 222 infertile women before and after Diagnosis of infertility in Ife East Senatorial district, Nigeria. They were interviewed using interviewer-administered questionnaire and Female Sexual Function Index assessment tool. Information about their sexual functions after marriage and before the couple started having difficulty in getting pregnant were obtained and compared with sexual functions after Diagnosis of infertility. Data management was done using SPSS Version22 and STATA 12. The Chi-square test was used to test associations. P-value of was set <0.05. Before infertility diagnosis, the prevalence of sexual dysfunction was 23.9%. After infertility diagnosis, this increased to 57.2%, P<0.001. The mean scores of female sexual function index for infertile patients were 29.57 ±5.10 before the infertility diagnosis but reduced to 24.42 ± 5.86 after infertility diagnosis P <0.001. The domain scores reduced after Diagnosis of infertility, and it shows statistical significance at P<0.001. Significant predictors at multivariate analysis include increasing maternal age, increasing duration of infertility, Hausa /Fulani tribe, and female genital mutilation. Infertility increases the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction and reduces the domain scores of sexual functions.

Female Sexual Dysfunction in a Third Level Health Facility, Southern Nigeria

Background: Observation during our gynaecology consultations does not tend to agree with reviews in literature suggesting high prevalence of sexual dysfunction. With this background, we decided to subject this general observation to scientific scrutiny to determine the proportion of our patients that actually have sexual dysfunction; and thepredisposing risk factors. Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with sexual dysfunction in females attending the gynaecology clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Port Harcourt. Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional questionnaire based study of 72 females of reproductive age group attending the outpatient gynaecological unit of UPTH. They were interviewed using the Female Sexual Dysfunction Index (FSFI). A total FSFI score of less than 26.5 was indicative of sexual dysfunction. The data were collated and entered into SPSS version23 statistical software which was also used for analysis. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in females was 61.1% using the FSFI of less than 26.50. The most common type of sexual dysfunction among the respondents was desire disorders (66.7%) followed by disorders of orgasm (62.5%), lubrication (56.9%), arousal (43.1%) and pain (40.3%). Advanced age, higher education, parity and female genital cutting were found to be associated with sexual dysfunction. Conclusion: The findings in this study showed that a significant number of women in our centre are affected with sexual dysfunction.

Disfunción sexual femenina: una mirada a los últimos 44 años. Análisis bibliométrico

Resumen Objetivo La disfunción sexual femenina (DSF) es un trastorno prevalente que afecta la calidad de vida de las mujeres y combina factores biológicos, psicológicos e interpersonales. Su estudio ha sido de poco interés, en campos como la investigación y el tratamiento, debido a la dificultad en la medición de las respuestas sexuales en las mujeres y otros factores, como el tabú acerca de la sexualidad femenina. Este estudio caracteriza las tendencias de publicaciones científicas acerca del tema, para que los urólogos puedan comprender la necesidad de realizar la búsqueda de este trastorno en la práctica diaria. Métodos Se realizó una búsqueda de la literatura en las bases de datos PubMed, FABUMED y Scopus, utilizando la estrategia «((«female sexual dysfunction» [Title/Abstract])». Se realizó un análisis bibliométrico descriptivo, de corte retrospectivo, de la literatura médica obtenida en MEDLINE. A través de las herramientas estadísticas FABUMED, PubReminer y Scopus, se recopilaron los datos y se obtuvo los resultados de las variables que posteriormente fueron analizadas de forma estadística y descriptiva. Con base en esta información, elaboramos tablas y gráficas en Microsoft Office Excel 2017. Adicionalmente, realizamos un análisis de mapeo bibliométrico utilizando el programa VOSviewer. Para la obtención del factor de impacto (FI), utilizamos el Journal Citation Reports 2017/2018. Resultados Desde 1975 hasta 2019, se publicaron 1.292 estudios, y la tasa anual de publicación permaneció estable entre 1975 y 2000. Pero, a partir del año 2000, se evidenció un aumento en el número de publicaciones, con un crecimiento del 92,1%. De las veinte revistas con más publicaciones, sólo cuatro son de urología. Los países con más publicaciones fueron: Estados Unidos (31,4%), Reino Unido (12,9%), Italia (8,9%), Turquía (5,9%), y Australia (4%). Estos datos son muy diferentes a los de los países de América Latina, en los que se encontraron muy pocas publicaciones, como Colombia, con tan sólo tres estudios. Conclusiones Este análisis bibliométrico mostró las diferentes tendencias y tasas de publicación de estudios sobre DSF, y evidenció una baja tasa de producción con relación a otras temáticas, sobre todo en las revistas urológicas, con predominio de mujeres como autores, aunque en los últimos años se ha identificado un crecimiento importante y sostenido. Se hace evidente la necesidad de desarrollar estrategias para mejorar la formación tanto en los niveles de posgrado como de pregrado y, así, generar más adhesión a este tema en una especialidad quirúrgica como la nuestra.

Female Sexual Dysfunction in Diabetes: Mechanisms, Diagnosis and Treatment

: Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is an underinvestigated comorbidity of diabetes mellitus, often not evaluated in diabetes clinics. Diabetic women should be encouraged to talk about this topic by their diabetologist, because these problems could be comorbid to cardio-metabolic alterations, as it happens in the male counterpart. This review summarizes evidence on sexual dysfunction characteristics in diabetic women, exploring possible underlying pathogenic mechanisms. The role of hypoglycemic drugs in this context was also evaluated. To date, no specific questionnaire has been designed for the assessment of sexual dysfunctions in diabetic female patients but the use of colour-doppler ultrasound of clitoral arteries has been highlighted as a useful tool for the assessment of cardiovascular risk in these women. Similarly, no specific guidelines are available for the treatment of FSD in the diabetic population but patients should be supported to have a healthy lifestyle and, in the absence of contraindications, can benefit from already approved treatments for FSD.

Female Sexual Dysfunction in Patients Treated with Antidepressants: A Comparison between Agomelatine and Escitalopram

Aim: This study aims to determine and compare the prevalence of Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) between patients on escitalopram and agomelatine, as well as to investigate possible factors associated with their usage. Study Design: Cross-sectional. Place and Duration of Study: Psychiatric Day Care Clinic, Department of Psychological Medicine, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Malaysia, between November 1, 2020 until February 1, 2021. Methodology: This study is a cross-sectional study involving 66 women with depression from the outpatient psychiatric clinic of a university hospital; 35 of whom were prescribed with escitalopram and 31 with agomelatine. The subjects were in remission and had no significant signs or symptoms of depression for at least 2 months. The prevalence of FSD between the two groups were compared after adjusting for underlying depression severity. Results: This study showed that the overall prevalence rate of FSD was 33.3%, with the prevalence being higher for those on escitalopram (42.9%) than those on agomelatine (22.6%), but did not achieve statistical significance (P=0.081). Out of the six domains of FSD, multivariate analyses revealed that there was a significant reduction of 69% in sexual desire disorder (95% CI:0.110, 0.855), P=0.022 for those on agomelatine compared to escitalopram. Controlling for drug dosage and depression severity (as measured using Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale), the odds for patients on agomelatine developing sexual desire disorder was 0.267 (95% CI:0.091, 0.783), P=0.016. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in FSD risk between patients on agomelatine and those on escitalopram. Patients on agomelatine were however less likely to develop sexual desire disorder, which demonstrates a slightly better sexual acceptability profile of agomelatine in women in this respect compared to escitalopram.