Sexual Dysfunction in Women With Migraine and Overweight/Obesity: Relative Frequency and Association With Migraine Severity

Abstract

Background/Objective Previous studies suggest that migraine might be associated with female sexual dysfunction (FSD), although this association may be complicated by overweight/obesity. To disentangle relationships of migraine and obesity with FSD, we examined: 1) FSD rates in women who had migraine and obesity with a matched sample of women with obesity who were free of migraine; and 2) associations between indices of migraine severity and FSD in a larger sample of participants with migraine and overweight/obesity, controlling for important confounders. Methods Women with migraine and obesity seeking behavioral weight loss treatment to decrease headaches (n=37) and non-migraine controls (n=37) with obesity seeking weight loss via bariatric surgery were matched on age (±5 years), body mass index (BMI; ±3 kg/m2), and reported sexual activity during the past month. Both groups completed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), with a validated FSFI-total cutoff score used to define FSD. In participants with migraine and overweight/obesity (n=105), separate logistic regression models evaluated associations of migraine attack frequency, intensity, and duration with odds of having FSD, controlling for age, BMI, depression, and anxiety. Results On average, participants and matched controls had severe obesity (BMI=42.4±3.8 kg/m2; range=35–49.9) and were 37.3±7.2 years of age (range=22–50). FSD rate did not differ between migraine participants and controls (56.8% vs. 54.1%, p=.82). In the larger sample of participants with migraine and overweight/obesity (38.2±7.8 years of age; BMI=34.8±6.4 [range=25–50 kg/m2]; 8.0±4.3 migraine days/month, maximum pain intensity=5.9±1.4 on 0–10 scale; average attack duration=18.3±9.7 hours), FSD was not associated with attack frequency (p=.31), pain intensity (p=.92), or attack duration (p=.35), but was associated with more severe anxiety symptoms (ps<.017). Conclusions Rates of sexual dysfunction did not differ in severely obese women with and without migraine. Moreover, indices of migraine severity were not associated with increased risk of FSD in women with overweight/obesity. Replication of present findings in wider populations of women with migraine and of both normal-weight and overweight/obese status are warranted.

Adolescent Perspectives on the Burden of a Parent's Migraine: Results from the CaMEO Study

“…Although less frequently endorsed, the implications of school interference items underscore the pervasiveness of burden incurred by adolescents when a parent has a migraine. Adolescents reported that their parent's migraine caused them to miss school and adversely affected their grades, consistent with established findings supporting an association between school absences and poorer academic performance . In fact, a strong association between poor attendance and lower standardized test (ie, National Assessment of Educational Progress) scores has been demonstrated in every state and each of 21 urban districts studied, regardless of geographic location, size, or student composition …”

“…Adolescents reported that their parent's migraine caused them to miss school and adversely affected their grades, consistent with established findings supporting an association between school absences and poorer academic performance. [22][23][24] In fact, a strong association between poor attendance and lower standardized test (ie, National Assessment of Educational Progress) scores has been demonstrated in every CM 5 chronic migraine; EM 5 episodic migraine. *Endorsement rates are calculated based on the total number of respondents and vary from item to item.…”

Does sexual functioning improve with migraine improvements and/or weight loss?—A post hoc analysis in the Women's Health and Migraine (WHAM) trial

“…Moreover, in another analysis within this same study among a larger sample (n = 105) of women with migraine and overweight/obesity, migraine attack frequency, pain intensity and attack duration were not associated with risk of FSD. 12 Taken together, these studies suggest that the presence of migraine and severity of migraine symptoms are not associated with FSD in women with comorbid obesity and raise the possibility that excess weight is an important contributor to sexual functioning impairments in this population. However, these studies had limitations.…”

Is weight just a number? Relationship between overweight, obesity and domains of sexual functioning among young women

“…It is also suggested that sexual activity problems may be exacerbated by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is described as repetitive episodes of upper respiratory tract obstruction, often reported in obese patients [33]. This can cause chronic fatigue, which is a known factor of reduced sexual desire.…”