Impaired sexual function in women with systemic lupus erythematosus: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Women with SLE reported significantly impaired sexual function compared with healthy controls. Impaired sexual function was associated with somatization, obsessive-compulsive behavior, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, hostility, paranoid ideation, psychoticism, PST, higher scores in the PSDI subscale, vitality, social functioning and mental health. These results indicate that, in daily practice, inquiring about sexuality and quality of life and screening for psychopathology are important for every patient with SLE, irrespective of their clinical characteristics.

Sexual functioning and its correlates in premenopausal married Indian women with systemic lupus erythematosus

“…Anyfanti et al studied the association between psychological factors and sexual function in rheumatic diseases and found a strong negative correlation between depression and anxiety and sexual function . In a study done by Morales et al, depression had a significant negative impact on sexual function . Similar findings were also reported by Curry et al In the present study too, depression and anxiety were associated with poor sexual functioning in the univariate analysis.…”

“…In a study done by Daleboudt el al., illness perception rather than disease activity played a negative impact on sexual function . Morales et al and Tseng et al did not find an association between disease activity and sexual function . However, in both these studies subjects had lower disease activity than the present study.…”

“…Studies which have evaluated sexual function of women with SLE suggest significantly higher rates of abstention, lower sexual activity among the sexually active, diminished vaginal lubrication and poorer general sexual adjustment . Other studies also suggest that compared to healthy controls, patients with SLE report high rates of decreased desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm and increased pain . In terms of correlates of sexual dysfunction, premorbid sexual adjustment, relationship quality and illness perception have been reported to influence sexual outcomes in SLE …”

The impact of systemic lupus erythematosus on women's sexual functioning

“…Previous studies have found that sexual function is significantly related to depression in female SLE patients [6,7,9,17] and depression affects about 40% of SLE patients, [18] so the clinical staff can improve patient's sexual function by improving the depressive state. Recent studies have shown that impairment of the normal structure and function of microglia, caused by autoimmune diseases, can result in depression and associated impairments in neuroplasticity and neurogenesis [19] and interferon-α-induced activation of microglia was particularly relevant to depressive-like behavior.…”

“…[7–11] A previous study indicated that women with SLE had a lower desire, lubrication, and orgasm. [7] A present study indicated that female SLE patients report lower sexual functioning, comparing with healthy women. [9] However, another study showed that the prevalence of desire and orgasm in female patients with SLE was similar to that in healthy controls.…”