Frequency of sexual dysfunction in women with rheumatic diseases

Abstracts

OBJETIVO: Pesquisar a prevalência de disfunção sexual em mulheres com as seguintes doenças reumáticas: lúpus eritematoso sistêmico, artrite reumatoide, esclerose sistêmica, síndrome antifosfolípide e fibromialgia acompanhados no Ambulatório de Reumatologia do Hospital Universitário de Brasília e do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo. MÉTODOS: Utilizou-se o índice de função sexual feminina (Female Sexual Function Index - FSfi), questionário que contém 19 itens que avaliam 6 domínios: desejo sexual, excitação sexual, lubrificação vaginal, orgasmo, satisfação sexual e dor. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliadas 163 pacientes. A média de idade foi de 40,4 anos. A prevalência de disfunção sexual foi de 18,4%, porém 24,2% das pacientes não apresentaram atividade sexual nas últimas 4 semanas. Entre os subgrupos, as pacientes com fibromialgia e esclerose sistêmica foram as com maior índice de disfunção sexual (33%). Se excluirmos as pacientes sem atividade sexual, a taxa de disfunção sobe para 24,2%. CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência de disfunção sexual encontrada neste estudo foi menor em relação à literatura. Entretanto, 24,2% das pacientes entrevistadas negaram atividade sexual nas últimas 4 semanas, o que pode ter contribuído para o baixo índice de disfunção sexual.

sexualidade; disfunção sexual; doenças reumáticas; qualidade de vida; comportamento sexual

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

^IRheumatologist, Service of Internal Medicine, Hospital das Forças Armadas

^IIPhD in Medical Sciences, Medical School, Universidade de Brasília - FMUnB; Collaborating Professor of Internal Medicine and of the Service of Rheumatology, FMUnB

^IIIPhD in Rheumatology; Visiting Professor, Medical School, Universidade Federal da Bahia - UFBA

^IVRheumatologist, Hospital Universitário de Brasília - HUB-UnB, Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal

^VMaster's degree in Pathology, UnB; Rheumatologist; Professor of Internal Medicine, FMUnB

^VIRheumatologist, Health Secretariat of the Distrito Federal

^VIIResident physician in Rheumatology, HUB-UnB

^VIIIPhD in Pathology, UnB; Professor of Internal Medicine, FMUnB

Correspondence to

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women followed up at the Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic of the Hospital Universitário de Brasília and of the Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo with the following rheumatic diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus; rheumatoid arthritis; systemic sclerosis; antiphospholipid antibody syndrome; and fibromyalgia.

METHODS: The Female Sexual Function Index (FSfi), obtained by applying a 19-item questionnaire that assesses six domains (sexual desire, arousal, vaginal lubrication, orgasm, sexual satisfaction and pain), was used.

RESULTS: This study assessed 163 patients. The mean age was 40.4 years. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction was 18.4%, but 24.2% of the patients reported no sexual activity over the past 4 weeks. Patients with fibromyalgia and systemic sclerosis had the highest sexual dysfunction index (33%). Excluding patients with no sexual activity, the sexual dysfunction rate reaches 24.2%.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of sexual dysfunction found in this study was lower than that reported in the literature. However, 24.2% of the patients interviewed reported no sexual activity over the past 4 weeks, which might have contributed to the low sexual dysfunction index found.

Keywords: sexuality, sexual dysfunction, rheumatic diseases, quality of life, sexual behavior.

INTRODUCTION

Sexuality is part of human life and of quality of life, accounting for individual well-being. It relates not only to sexual intercourse itself, but also to a whole spectrum that ranges from self-image and self-valuing to relationship with the 'Other'. Appropriate sexual activity comprises phases from sexual arousal to relaxation, with pleasure and satisfaction.¹

Sexual dysfunction is a change in a phase of the sexual activity that can culminate in frustration, pain, and a reduction in the number of sexual intercourses.² Some studies have shown a prevalence of sexual dysfunction in the general female population of as much as 40%.³ Chronic diseases are known to influence the quality of sexual life, but their effect is little studied, and sexual dysfunction, little diagnosed.² This is due to two reasons: patients do not report their sexual dysfunctions because of shame or frustration, and physicians rarely ask their patients about those dysfunctions.^3,4

When asked, health professionals allege to have little time for consultation, lack of privacy in their medical offices, and lack of ability to discuss the issue. In addition, patients tend to avoid speaking about that subject. Recently, the Association Nationale de Défense Contre l'Arthrite Rhumatoïde (French Association for Rheumatoid Arthritis) has sent, via e-mail, a questionnaire about sexuality to their members. Only 38% responded, and 70% reported a negative impact of the disease on their sexual life. Seventy-two per cent reported never having spoken with their physicians about sexuality.⁴

Studies on the Brazilian population that could help to delineate the real impact of rheumatic diseases on sexual functioning still lack. Knowing the extension of the problem is necessary, so that therapeutic possibilities can be provided, because sexual dysfunction is one of the major determinants of reduced quality of life.

This study aimed at assessing the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women followed up in the Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic of the Hospital Universitário de Brasília (HUB) and the Hospital das Clínicas of the Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), who have the following rheumatic diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); rheumatoid arthritis (RA); systemic sclerosis (SSc); antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APLS); and fibromyalgia (FM).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study assessed 163 women followed up at the Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic of the HUB and HC-FMUSP (patients with APLS). Those women had been diagnosed with RA, SLE, SSc, FM, and APLS.

The presence of sexual dysfunction was identified by use of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), obtained by applying the questionnaire proposed by Rosen et al.,^5,6 which is widely used in several countries and whose Portuguese version has been validated⁷ (Table 1). That questionnaire contains 19 items that assess the following six domains: sexual desire; arousal; vaginal lubrication; orgasm; sexual satisfaction; and pain. Individual domain scores are obtained by adding the scores of the individual items that comprise the domain and multiplying the sum by the domain factor. The full scale score is obtained by adding the six domain scores. Values< 26 indicate sexual dysfunction.

The study's inclusion criteria were as follows: 18-69-year-old women diagnosed with specific diseases (RA, SLE, SSc, FM, APLS) by a rheumatologist according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria and Sidney criteria for APLS,^8-13 and who had had at least one sexual intercourse in life. Those who refused to participate in the study and those whose questionnaires were not fully completed were excluded.

The following demographic and clinical data of the participants were collected: diagnosis; disease duration; age; religion; educational level; marital status; medications used; date of the last period; and use of hormone replacement therapy. This study was approved by the Committee on Ethics and Research of the Universidade de Brasília.

Statistical analysis

Categorical variables were described as absolute frequency and percent relative frequency. Quantitative variables were described as mean ± standard deviation, when their distribution was symmetrical, or as median and interquartile interval, when asymmetrical.

RESULTS

This study selected 181 patients, 18 of whom were excluded due to the following reasons: misunderstanding in questionnaire completion (5); virginity (1); and incomplete questionnaire (items left unanswered) (12). The disease distribution of the 163 patients remaining in the study was as follows: SLE, 82 patients; RA, 24; FM, 15; SSc, 3; and APLS, 39 (all patients with primary APLS) (Table 2).

The mean age of the patients was 40.4 years. The characteristics of the participants according to their diseases are shown in Table 3. Regarding menstruation, 46% had regular cycles and 28.7% were in menopause. Only one patient was on hormone replacement therapy. Most patients (76%) had more than 7 years of schooling and only 1.2% were illiterate.

The patients reported the following marital status: married, 51.5%; single, 21.7%; living with partner, 13.6%; separated, 7.4%; and widow, 5.6%. For the purpose of this study, those married and those living with their partners were gathered in one group, called the long-time companionship group, corresponding to 65.1% of the interviewees. Most participants reported being Catholic (41.2%).

The prevalence of sexual dysfunction was 18.4%, but 24.2% of the patients reported no sexual activity over the previous 4 weeks. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction according to the subgroups of disease was as follows: FM and SSc, 33.3% of the patients (the highest rate); SLE, 22% of the patients; RA, 8.3% of the patients; and APLS, 10.2% of the patients. Excluding the patients with no recent sexual activity, the prevalence of sexual dysfunction reaches 24.2%.

The mean number of medications per patient was 3.4. The most used drugs were fluoxetine and tricyclic antidepressants (18.7%). Both drugs were more often used by patients with FM (12 patients), followed by those with SLE (7), RA (3) and SSc (2). The mean FSFI score of patients on fluoxetine or tricyclic antidepressants was 30.4. Patients not on those drugs had a mean score of 19.51.

DISCUSSION

Rheumatic diseases can interfere with sexual function due to factors related to both the disease itself and its treatment.^1,14 Pain, morning stiffness, joint edema and fatigue might both lead to a decrease in sexual drive and impair sexual intercourse. In addition, low self-esteem and negative body image, which usually affect individuals with rheumatic diseases, are relevant psychological factors. The drugs used to treat those diseases can also reduce libido.^2,15,16

A few studies have assessed the impact of rheumatic diseases on sexual function. A study conducted in Cleveland, USA, has shown a lower frequency of sexual activity and reduced vaginal lubrication in patients with SLE as compared with controls.¹⁴ Patients with SLE have also reported an increase in vaginal discomfort or pain during intercourse; however, sexual drive, motivation, arousal and climaxing were similar to those in controls.^14,17

The prevalence of sexual dysfunction found in this study was lower than that reported in the literature. Research with individuals with RA has shown a 50%-60% impact on their quality of sexual life.¹ Abdel-Nasser et al.¹⁸ have studied 52 women with RA, 60% of whom had reported a decrease in their sexual drive and satisfaction, as well as in sexual performance. Ayden et al.¹, using the FSFI questionnaire in patients with FM, have reported 54.2% of sexual dysfunction versus 15.8% in controls. However, Impens et al.¹⁹ have applied that same questionnaire to patients with SSc and have found a mean score of 24, but with a high sexual abstinence rate (40%).

An Egyptian study¹⁴ on RA has reported sexual dysfunction in 60% of the patients studied, with libido loss or decrease in 46% of them, and that correlated with disease activity parameters. Joint pain can restrict certain sexual positions, mainly in the presence of knee or hip joint impairment.¹⁸ Other studies have also shown a trend towards more sexual dysfunction in patients with RA.^1,4,14 In this study, sexual dysfunction was found in 8.3% of the patients with RA, which is lower than that reported in other studies on the theme.

The few studies on SSc have shown a reduction in sexual activity due to psychological and physical factors, such as vaginal dryness and ulcerations.^19,20 In addition, skin thickness might lead to joint contractures, resulting in difficulties to sexual relationship.²⁰ Our study assessed only 3 patients with SSc, which hinders other conclusions about the theme.

Regarding FM, depression seems to be the determinant factor for sexual dysfunction,²¹ which, in those patients, manifests mainly as a reduction in sexual drive^21,1 and in orgasm rate, in addition to pain during sexual intercourse.²² In our study, the patients with FM had the highest sexual dysfunction rate (33%) and the highest percentage of sexual abstinence (47%), in accordance with reports in the literature. Depression is extremely common in FM, being associated with reduced libido and self-esteem, being, thus, an important factor in sexual dysfunction.¹

In addition, the use of antidepressants worsens or contributes to worsen the quality of sexual life. As much as 60% of patients on serotonin uptake inhibitors have sexual dysfunction.¹⁶ Tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin uptake inhibitors and monoamine oxidase inhibitors are the antidepressants that most reduce libido.¹⁵ In this study, a considerable increase in the FSFI score of the patients on fluoxetine and tricyclic antidepressants was observed, as compared to those not using those drugs (30.4 versus 19.51).

Of the patients interviewed, 24.2% reported no sexual activity over the previous 4 weeks, which might have contributed to the low sexual dysfunction rate found in our study. Some of those patients might have some degree of sexual dissatisfaction or difficulty, which might lead to abstinence or a reduction in the frequency of sexual intercourses.

The educational level was high, with 76% of the participants having more than 7 years of schooling. Nevertheless, difficulty in understanding the questions might have occurred. The questionnaire is a self-report tool (except in cases of illiteracy, when the doctor met the answers), but many patients asked about the meaning of certain items. In addition, 17 patients were excluded because of a misunderstanding in questionnaire completion or lack of answer to any item.

The quality of sexual life is still rarely assessed during medical consultations. Further studies are required to delineate the impact of disease on sexuality and to make rheumatologists aware of the importance of discussing those questions with their patients.

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Frequency of sexual dysfunction in women with rheumatic diseases

Clarissa de Castro Ferreira^I; Licia Maria Henrique da Mota^II; Ana Cristina Vanderley Oliveira^I; Jozélio Freire de Carvalho^III; Rodrigo Aires Corrêa Lima^IV; Cezar Kozak Simaan^V; Francieli de Sousa Rabelo^VI; José Abrantes Sarmento^VII; Rafaela Braga de Oliveira^VII; Leopoldo Luiz dos Santos Neto^VIII

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  09 Apr 2013
• Date of issue
  Feb 2013

History

• Received
  06 Dec 2011
• Accepted
  13 Dec 2012