Sexual Desire, Depressive Symptoms and Medication Use Among Women With Fibromyalgia in Flanders

Abstract

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is associated with sexual dysfunction, though much less is known about the sexual desire, and especially dyadic and solitary sexual desire, among women with fibromyalgia. Aim: To investigate on the one hand the global sexual desire, the dyadic sexual and solitary sexual desire, and on the other hand the association with depressive symptoms, fibromyalgia symptoms and medication use among women with fibromyalgia in Flanders, Belgium. Methods: An online survey was spread through the Flemish league for Fibromyalgia Patients to be completed by women with fibromyalgia. The sexual desire inventory-2 (SDI-2) was used to measure sexual desire (global, dyadic, solitary), the VASFIQ for fibromyalgia symptoms, and the PHQ-2 for depressive symptoms, while also including questions on demographic factors (time since FM, age) and medication usage (antidepressants, pain medication, sleeping medication). Main Outcome Measure: Global sexual desire, dyadic sexual desire and solitary sexual desire were studied in relation to depressive symptoms, medication use and fibromyalgia symptoms. Results: One hundred and three women with FM answered the survey. Depressive symptoms were significantly associated with a lower global, dyadic and solitary sexual desire, as was the use of antidepressant medication. The association between solitary sexual desire and depressive symptoms disappeared when controlled for antidepressant medication. Age, fibromyalgia symptoms nor time since diagnosis were significantly associated with any form of sexual desire. Conclusion: Depressive symptoms and antidepressant medication, and not fibromyalgia symptoms, were associated with decreased sexual desire of women with FM. As antidepressant medication and depressive symptoms are associated with a decreased sexual desire, more attention should be paid towards the mental health issues associated with fibromyalgia, as well as the prescription of antidepressant medication. This study is the first to investigate sexual desire among women with fibromyalgia in Flanders, and one of the few internationally to have done so. It is limited by its cross-sectional design, and for not providing information on men with FM.

Fibromyalgia: one year in review 2022

“…The sexuality of FM patients has also started to attract greater interest. Sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent (29) together with depressive symptoms (30), and these characteristics have been well described in a recent meta-analysis (31).…”

The Effect of Frequency of Sexual Intercourse on Symptoms in Women with Fibromyalgia

“…Depressive symptoms and antidepressant use are associated with decreased sexual desire in women with FM. [ 42 ] Sexual activity is associated with better psychological and physical functioning. [ 43 ] Sexual intercourse has psychological effects such as happiness, well-being, less perception of psychological stress and mental health.…”

Body Image, Medication Use, and Mental Health among Women with Fibromyalgia in Flanders, Belgium

“…The health of people with chronic illnesses not only involves the absence of pain or other disease-related factors, but it also involves social, emotional, and psychological challenges [14]. While there has been attention for the mental health or sexual health of women with FM [12,15], body image, an important aspect of wellbeing, is mostly unstudied. To achieve more positive health outcomes, all aspects are important to study.…”