Abstract
The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction and depression in women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP). A case-control study was conducted on 66 women, 36 of them with CPP and 30 without this diagnosis. Depression was evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and sexual dysfunction was evaluated using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Data were analyzed statistically by the Mann-Whitney test, Fisher exact test, chisquare test, and Spearman correlation test. Regarding sociodemographic data, no significant differences were detected between populations with respect to the variables studied (age, schooling, number of children, income, salary, and marital status), indicating group homogeneity and thus increasing the reliability of the data. A cut-off of 26.55 points was used to calculate the total score for sexual function. In the group of women with CPP, 94.4% were at high risk for sexual dysfunction. Comparison of FSFI scores showed that the domains of sexual function, such as orgasm, lubrication and pain differed significantly between women with and without CPPP. Correlations were detected between the following items: orgasm × age (r = -0.01904), orgasm × number of children (r =-0. 00947), orgasm × body mass index (BMI) (r =-0.00 955), relationship × age (r = 0.03952), income × relationship (r =-0.014680), relationship × number of children (r =-0.03623), depression × relationship (r =-0.16091), desire × age (r = -0.45255), desire × number of children (r = -0.01824), lubrication × excitement (r = 0.04198), and lubrication × BMI (r = -0.01608). The prevalence of depression detected in the present study was 38.9% among women with pain and 3.3% among control women. It was observed that women with CPP suffer a negative interference regarding sexual function compared to controls. Thus, it can be seen that a specific approach related to sexuality is extremely important within the context of women with CPP. Depression was clearly associated with CPP and therefore an interdisciplinary approach is fundamental in order to solve this problem.
Highlights
Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) has been defined as pain not exclusively of menstrual origin lasting at least six months and possibly interfering with habitual activities, requiring clinical and/or surgical intervention [1]
The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction and depression in women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP)
A case-control study was conducted on 66 female patients aged 18 to 45 years, 36 of whom had a diagnosis of CPP and were being treated in the Chronic Pelvic Pain Outpatient Clinic of a public university hospital, and on 30 women without CPP in the same age range and with the same sociodemographic conditions (Table 1)
Summary
Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) has been defined as pain not exclusively of menstrual origin lasting at least six months and possibly interfering with habitual activities, requiring clinical and/or surgical intervention [1]. CPP is a common and complex syndromic disease often of unidentified causes, rendering the diagnosis and treatment more difficult. The importance of this topic is reflected on the impact the disease has on the well-being of affected patients, interfering with their marital, social, professional and sexual life. Individuals with chronic pain have a long history of pain, marked psychic suffering, work and physical impairment, and distrust of treatment. These conditions may favor lack of adherence to treatment, prolong pain and suffering, impair physical and psychic functionality, and cause deterioration of quality of life [5,6]
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