Abstract
Introduction: Endometriosis is a gynecological disorder defined by the implantation of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, generating an inflammatory state in the affected region. It is highly prevalent in adult women (estimated 10%), and it can often cause physical and psycho-emotional alterations.
Objective: To analyze the influence of endometriosis on women's overall sexual health and on each domain of sexuality (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain) using the FSFI questionnaire. Secondarily, study the influence of medical hormonal treatment of endometriosis on sexual health.
Material and methods: The sample consisted of 44 participants, 22 patients with endometriosis (EG) and 22 patients without endometriosis (CG). An endometriosis-specific ultrasound protocol was used for diagnosis. Both groups completed an FSFI questionnaire, and the scores were compared. Results in EG group were also analyzed according to the existence of hormonal treatment and its type.
Results: CG patients had higher FSFI final score with no significant differences (P=0.622). There were differences in sexual desire in favor of CG (P=0.016). EG patients not taking hormone treatment scored higher (P=0.012) especially in terms of lubrication (P=0.006). There was no difference according to the kind of hormonal treatment (P=0.701).
Conclusion: Endometriosis plays a negative role in sexual desire. Global scores suggest a tendency for better sexual health in patients without the disease. Larger sample sizes would be needed for better analysis. In addition, hormonal treatment was found to have a negative influence on sexual health, with no difference between the kind of drug.
Keywords
Endometriosis, Endometriosis, Disease, Women, Sexual health, Sexuality