Impaired sexual function in women with systemic sclerosis: A crosssectional study

ObjectiveTo compare sexual functioning and distress in women with systemic sclerosis SSc with that in healthy controls and determine the association between disease characteristics and sexual function.MethodsWe conducted a crosssectional study of 69 women with SSc ages 18–60 years and 58 healthy, agematched controls. Assessment included the Female Sexual Function Index FSFI, Female Sexual Distress Scale FSDS, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Short Form 36 health survey, sociodemographic characteristics, and in patients only, the Health Assessment Questionnaire.ResultsOf 69 eligible patients with SSc, 37 54 responded, in addition to 37 64 of 58 controls. The FSFI total score and the subscale scores for lubrication, orgasm, arousal, and pain were significantly lower and the FSDS scores were significantly higher in patients with SSc. Longer disease duration and higher levels of marital dissatisfaction were significantly associated with low sexual function in patients with SSc. Longer disease duration, more depressive symptoms, and the use of antidepressants were significantly associated with sexual distress. Multivariate analyses indicated that marital distress was the only variable significantly associated with low sexual function in patients with SSc β 0.40, P< 0.05, whereas depression was the only variable significantly associated with sexual distress β 0.32, P< 0.05. The same pattern of associations was found in the healthy control group.ConclusionWomen with SSc reported significantly impaired sexual functioning and more sexual distress then healthy controls. Impaired sexual functioning and sexual distress were associated with marital distress and depressive symptoms. These results indicate that in daily practice, inquiring about sexuality and screening for depressive symptoms is indicated in every patient with SSc, irrespective of their clinical characteristics.