scholarly journals Female Sexual Dysfunction and Pelvic Floor Muscle Function Associated with Systemic Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Author(s):  
Barbora Heřmánková ◽  
Maja Špiritović ◽  
Hana Šmucrová ◽  
Sabína Oreská ◽  
Hana Štorkánová ◽  
...  

Only a few studies have addressed sexual health in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study aimed to compare female sexual function and pelvic floor muscle function in SSc patients with healthy controls (HC) matched by age, and to identify the potential implications of clinical features on sexual function. Our cohort included 90 women with SSc and 90 HC aged 18–70 years that completed six well-established and validated questionnaires assessing sexual function (Brief Index of Sexual Function for Women, Female Sexual Function Index, Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire–Female, Sexual Function Questionnaire) and pelvic floor function (Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire–Short Form 7 and Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire Short Form). Results from women with SSc and HC were contrasted and correlated with relevant clinical features. The prevalence of female sexual dysfunction was 73% in SSc patients (vs. 31% in HC). Women with SSc reported significantly worse pelvic floor function and sexual function than HC. Impaired sexual function was correlated with higher disease activity, the presence of dyspnea and interstitial lung disease, increased systemic inflammation, reduced physical activity, functional disability, more severe depression, more pronounced fatigue, and impaired quality of life. We demonstrate that sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent among women with SSc. This aspect of the disease deserves more attention both in clinical care and at the level of international research collaboration.

Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cinara Sacomori ◽  
Luz Alejandra Lorca ◽  
Mónica Martinez-Mardones ◽  
Roberto Ignacio Salas-Ocaranza ◽  
Guillermo Patricio Reyes-Reyes ◽  
...  

Abstract Background There is scarcity of trials about preventative strategies for low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) in rectal cancer patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a pre- and post-surgical pelvic floor rehabilitation program on the bowel symptoms, pelvic floor function, and quality of life of rectal cancer patients. Methods A randomized controlled trial with parallel groups (pelvic floor rehabilitation versus control group), with a blinded evaluator. Participants and setting: 56 stage I to III rectal cancer patients aged from 18 to 80 years old undergoing sphincter preservation surgery at Hospital del Salvador and who have a sufficient knowledge of Spanish. Main outcome measures: ICIQ-B questionnaire for intestinal symptoms, high-resolution anorectal manometry (Alacer Multiplex 24-channel manometry equipment) for anorectal function, pelvic floor muscle strength test with Oxford Modified Scale, and a quality of life test with the EORTC QLQ C30 questionnaire. The evaluations will be carried out at five stages: before surgery, before and after the pelvic floor rehabilitation, and during a 3-month and 1-year follow-up. Interventions: one pre-rehabilitation session and 9 to 12 sessions of pelvic floor rehabilitation, including patient education, pelvic floor muscle exercises, pelvic floor electromyography biofeedback, and capacitive and sensory rectal training with a balloon probe. Rehabilitation will begin 3–5 weeks before the ileostomy is removed (four sessions) and around 3 weeks after stoma removal (5–8 sessions). Discussion We expect the program to improve the bowel symptoms, pelvic floor function, and quality of life of rectal cancer patients. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Register ACTRN12620000040965. Registered on 21 January 2020.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-44
Author(s):  
Mona Reda ◽  
Dina Ruby

Background: Despite asthma being a worldwide disease, still little awareness regarding the sexual function of asthmatic patients exists. So this study attempts to assess the Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) amongst Egyptian females with asthma and its burden on their quality of life. Materials & Methods: The sample consisted of 180 subjects, comprising 90 asthma patients and 90 healthy controls aged between 20 - 45 years old, who visited the Chest Department Outpatient Clinic of Ain Shams University Hospital between January and December 2018. We reported all the subjects' demographic and clinical data; both groups answered an Arabic version of the Female Sexual Function Index (Ar FSFI) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire abbreviated version (WHOQL-Bref). Results: 90% of asthmatic females had FSD; total Female Sexual Function Index score was 12.956 ± 10.3 in asthmatic females compared to 25.423 ± 5.521 in healthy controls; 45.6% of asthmatic females with sexual dysfunction had moderate asthma and 86.4% had uncontrolled asthma, 40.1% of them had a low educational level and 80.2% were unemployed. Conclusion: Jobless females with severe uncontrolled asthma and a low educational level had higher sexual dysfunction and a poor quality of life.


2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 657-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cinara Sacomori ◽  
Janeisa Franck Virtuoso ◽  
Ana Paula Kruger ◽  
Fernando Luiz Cardoso

Abstract Introduction : Pelvic floor (PF) muscles react to sexual stimuli with increased local blood circulation and involuntary contractions during orgasm. The training of the PF musculature helps in the improvement of the female sexual function. Objective : To verify the association between PF muscle strength and sexual function in women, controlling age and parity. Method : Cross-sectional study based on associations. The study included women who attended a reference center in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, for a uterine cancer smear test. The Functional Evaluation of the Pelvic Floor and the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire were used. Statistical procedures included Mann-Whitney U tests, Spearman correlation and Poisson Regression Analysis, with p < .05. Results : The mean age of the women (n = 177) was 39.05 years (SD = 13.3). Regarding PF function, 53.7% of participants presented weak or not palpable PF muscle function. Women with "good" muscle function (able to maintain contraction under examiner's resistance) had significantly better indexes of sexual desire, excitement, lubrication and orgasm than women with weak/poor function. We identified that 52.5% of the women presented sexual dysfunction. Women with "poor" PF function and aged over 50 years had, respectively, 1.36 (CI95% 1.01 - 1.82) and 1.77 (CI95% 1.41 - 2.23) higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction than women with "good" PF function. Conclusions : Adult women with better PF muscle function also presented better sexual function.


2009 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 120
Author(s):  
Stany W. Lobo ◽  
Ritesh G. Menezes ◽  
Tanuj Kanchan ◽  
K. PradyumnaMajumdar ◽  
Prakash Baral ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chendrimada Madhu ◽  
Penelope Harber ◽  
David Holmes

Urinary incontinence is a debilitating problem in women with significant effects on quality of life. The tension free vaginal tape (TVT) improves urinary symptoms and achieves a high rate of patient satisfaction. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of TVT on vaginal symptoms, pelvic floor function and in turn quality of life. We hypothesize that the TVT is associated with an improvement in pelvic floor function. A prospective questionnaire- based analysis was conducted over a period of ten months in patients undergoing the TVT procedure. The International Consul - tation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire - Vaginal Symptoms questionnaire was used to evaluate the vaginal symptoms pre-operatively and 6 months post-operatively. The results were compared to assess for any significant differences. A total of 31 patients were recruited for the study. There was a statistically significant improvement in vaginal symptoms score at 6 months in women undergoing TVT along with an improvement in urinary symptoms. This study suggests a positive impact of TVT insertion on vaginal symptomatology, which is an exciting prospect influencing patient counseling for treatment options of urinary stress incontinence. This finding may have an impact on performing concomitant surgeries for stress incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. There is a need for further large–scale research to explore this aspect of unexpected benefit from the TVT.


Author(s):  
Firoozeh Mirzaee ◽  
Atefeh Ahmadi ◽  
Zahra Zangiabadi ◽  
Moghaddameh Mirzaee

Abstract Introduction Sexual function is a multidimensional phenomenon that is affected by many biological and psychological factors. Cognitive-behavioral sex therapies are among the most common nonpharmacological approaches to psychosexual problems. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of psychoeducational and cognitive-behavioral counseling on female sexual dysfunction. Methods The present study was a clinical trial with intervention and control groups. The study population consisted of women referring to the general clinic of a governmental hospital in Iran. After completing the demographic questionnaire and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), those who obtained the cutoff score ≤ 28 were contacted and invited to participate in the study. Convenience sampling method was used and 35 subjects were randomly allocated for each group. Eight counseling sessions were held for the intervention group (two/week/1.5 hour). Post-test was taken from both groups after 1 month, and the results were statistically analyzed by PASW Statistics for Windows, Version 18 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results The total mean scores of FSFI and the subscales of sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, and satisfaction were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group after the intervention. In addition, postintervention pain mean scores in the intervention group were significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion The results of the present study indicate that psychoeducational cognitive-behavioral counseling is effective in improving female sexual function. It is recommended to compare the effects of psychoeducational cognitive-behavioral counseling on sexual dysfunctions of couples and with a larger sample size in future research.


Author(s):  
Saman Maroufizadeh ◽  
Hedyeh Riazi ◽  
Hajar Lotfollahi ◽  
Reza Omani-Samani ◽  
Payam Amini

Abstract Background The 6-item Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) is a short form of the original 19-item FSFI that measures sexual function in women. The aim of this study was to examine the factor structure and reliability of the FSFI-6 and to determine the demographic correlates of sexual dysfunction among infertile women in Iran. Results In total, 250 infertile women participated in this study. The mean total FSFI-6 score was 20.71 ± 5.09. Internal consistency of the FSFI-6 was high (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.856). All inter-item correlations and item-total correlations were in acceptable range. The results of confirmatory factor analysis provided support for a unidimensional model of the FSFI-6. Among demographic and infertility variables, higher women’s age, low education, unwanted marriage, short infertility duration, and low frequency of intercourse were associated with sexual dysfunction. Conclusions The FSFI-6 demonstrated sound reliability and validity in this study, supporting its continued use for measuring sexual disfunction among infertile women. Its brevity and comprehensiveness allow a quick assessment both in clinical and research settings.


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