Sexual dysfunction in patients with systemic sclerosis
Background/aim:
The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of systemic sclerosis (SSc) on quality of life and sexual function in
female patients.
Materials and methods:
The study included 30 sexually active female patients with SSc and 30 healthy control subjects. For all
participants in both the patient and control groups, the female sexual index and SF-36 forms were completed and a detailed medical
and sexual history was taken.
Results:
The mean age was 45.03 ± 9.22 years in the SSc group and 44.6 ± 11.52 years in the control group (P = 0.87). The SF-36 scores
in the patient group were significantly lower than those in the control group. Sexual dysfunction was found in 26/30 (86.6%) of the SSc
patients and in 6/30 (20%) of the control group (P = 0.0001). Significant differences were determined between the groups with respect
to sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, sexual satisfaction, and pain. There was no significant relationship between the subgroups
of SSc patients, duration of disease, lung involvement, and FSFI scores.
Conclusion:
Sexual dysfunction and lower health quality are common problems in female patients with systemic sclerosis.
___
- White B. Immunopathogenesis of systemic sclerosis. Rheum Dis
Clin N Am 1996; 22: 695-708.
- Denton CP, Black CM. Scleroderma clinical and pathological
advances. Best Pract Res Cl Rh 2004; 18: 271-290.
- Krieg T, Meurer M. Systemic scleroderma: clinical and
pathophysiologic aspects. J Am Acad Dermatol 1988; 18: 457-
481.
- Varga J. Systemic sclerosis: an update. Bull NYU Hosp Jt Dis 2007;
66: 198-202.
- Hong P, Pope JE, Ouimet JM, Rullan E. Erectile dysfunction
associated with scleroderma: a case-control study of men with
scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol 2004; 31:
508-513.
- Simeon C, Fonollosa V, Vilardell M. Impotence and Peyronie’s disease
in systemic sclerosis. Clin Exp Rheumatol 1994; 12: 464-464.
- Walker U, Tyndall A, and Ruszat R. Erectile dysfunction in systemic
sclerosis. Ann Rheum Dis 2009; 68: 1083-1085.
- Lally EV and Jimenez SA. Impotence in progressive systemic
sclerosis. Ann Intern Med 1981; 95: 150-153.
- Nowlin NS, Brick JE, Weaver DJ. Impotence in scleroderma. Ann
Intern Med 1986; 104: 794-798.
- Aversa A, Proietti M, Bruzziches R. Case report: the penile
vasculature in systemic sclerosis: a duplex ultrasound study. J
Sex Med 2006; 3: 554-558.
- Merla A, Romani GL, Tangherlini A. Penile cutaneous temperature in
systemic sclerosis: a thermal imaging study. Int J Immunopath
Ph 2006; 20:139-144.
- Bhadauria S, Moser DK, Clements PJ, Singh RR. Genital tract
abnormalities and female sexual function impairment in
systemic sclerosis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1995; 172: 580-587.
- Saad SC and Behrendt AE. Scleroderma and sexuality. J Sex Res
1996; 33: 215-220.
- Trilpell L, Nietert P and Brown A. Prevalence of female sexual
dysfunction among women with systemic sclerosis. In:
Proceedings of the 9th International Workshop on Scleroderma
Research 2006; Boston, MA, USA; 5–9 August 2006.
- Oksuz E and Malhan S. Reliability and validity of the Female Sexual
Function Index in the Turkish population. Sendrom 2005; 17:
54-60.
- Mayes MD. Scleroderma epidemiology. Rheum Dis Clin N Am 1996;
22: 751-764.
- Impens AJ, Rothman J, Schiopu E. Sexual activity and functioning
in female scleroderma patients. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2009; 27:
S38.
- Schouffoer AA, Van Der Marel J. Impaired sexual function in women
with systemic sclerosis: a cross‐sectional study. Arthrit Care
Res 2009; 61: 1601-1608.
- Levis B, Hudson M, Knafo R, Baron M. Rates and correlates of
sexual activity and impairment among women with systemic
sclerosis. Arthrit Care Res 2012; 64: 340-350.