Sexual Dysfunction and Associated Factors in Women with Psoriasis

Abstract

Context: Psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease, may negatively affect sexual function; however, data on the sexual health of female patients with psoriasis in Vietnam are lacking. Aims: To assess the risk of sexual dysfunction (SD) and its associated factors in female patients with psoriasis who visited the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital of Dermato-Venereology from April 2020 to October 2020. Settings and Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods and Material: A total of 302 female patients with psoriasis aged 18 to 49 years were recruited. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was used to assess the risk of SD (cut-off value at 26). Results: The risk of SD accounted for 79.1% of the study population and was not associated with age, comorbidities, weight, or trigger factors. Urban dwellers had greater odds of SD risk than non-urban dwellers (OR = 2.63). Similar trends were observed in terms of higher education than grade 12, less than once a week of physical activities, and psychological stress as a trigger factor (OR = 1.89, 2.65, and 3.41, respectively). Female psoriasis patients with SD risk had a lower age of onset and higher weight, BMI, waist circumference, and PASI than patients who did not (P < 0.05). Psychological stress and high PASI were independent risk factors of SD risk in female patients with psoriasis (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Factors with negative impacts on psoriasis may also increase the risk of SD in female patients; among these factors, psychological stress and high PASI were the strongest predictors of SD in female patients with psoriasis.

Sexual dysfunctions in psoriatic patients

“…Female patients had significantly lower sexual desire (question 2) and satisfaction with their sexual life (question 16) than controls. Similar findings were reported by Nguyen et al, who found additionally significantly worsened arousal and pain ( 33 ), whereas Türel Ermertcan et al – arousal and orgasm ( 31 ). Kuzriki et al also pointed to decreased desire as the one that is mainly affected ( 34 ).…”

“…In our study, we did not assess psoriasis activity and severity index (PASI) since it was an online survey however in other experiments the results are diversified. In the paper by Kędra et al there was a correlation between sexual problems and PASI in both sexes (39) (38), whereas the other one found higher PASI among female patients with significantly decreased FSFI score (33,38). In the study by Al Mazeedi and Türel et al, no significant difference was observed between patients with mild or severe psoriasis in terms of the quality of their sexual life (31, 40).…”

“…Bardazzi and Nguyen et al evaluated only female patients. The first team reported that only patients with moderate to severe psoriasis had lower FSFI than controls ( 38 ), whereas the other one found higher PASI among female patients with significantly decreased FSFI score ( 33 , 38 ). In the study by Al Mazeedi and Türel et al, no significant difference was observed between patients with mild or severe psoriasis in terms of the quality of their sexual life ( 31 , 40 ).…”

“…We did not observe any correlation between FSFI or IIEF and the place of patients’ residence. Nguyen on the other hand found lower FSFI scores in women from cities compared to the countryside ( 33 ). It was suggested to be related to greater exposure to psychological stress within the urban environment ( 33 ).…”