The effect of vulvar lichen sclerosus on sexual dysfunction

Abstract

Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic inflammatory dermathosis that affects the vulva. Many women with LS complain about pain in the vulva, which usually often affects a patient’s life quality. This study describes the results of comparing the sexual function of patients with vulva lichen sclerosis (VLS) with reports of pain and without, to a control group of healthy people.The objective: a determination of the spread of sexual dysfunction in women with VLS.Materials and methods. On the basis of the gynecological office for routine screening / preventive care of the outpatient department in the National Cancer Institute and the clinic “Verum”, a case-control study was carried out to determine the relationship between VLS and sexual dysfunction. A total of 235 women were included in the study. 140 women with a confirmed by biopsy the diagnosis VLS were compared with a control group. We studied the current health complaints, medical and surgical history, current symptoms such as pain and itching, the type and frequency of sexual intercourse and level of satisfaction with sexual activity. The assessment of the severity of pain was carried out according to the McGill scale, the type and frequency of sexual relations and the level of satisfaction with sexual activity - according to the results of questionnaires.Results. Women with VLS reported less sexual activity than women of the control group (p=0.007). In the study, sexually active women with VLS were significantly less likely to report vaginal intercourse (71.6%) than «healthy» controls (89.0%, p=0.003), although similar proportions of all groups indicated that vaginal contact was important for them. Satisfaction with the quality of sexual activity was significantly lower among the women with VLS compared with the control group of «healthy» patients. 25% of women with VLS reported that sexual activity was rarely or never satisfying, compared with 2,11% of the control group of healthy women (p<0.0001).Conclusion. Women with vulva lichen sclerosis have less frequent and less satisfying sexual activity compared to the control group.