Sexual function in women with unexplained infertility
- Authors: Kudryavtseva E.V.1, Berezina D.A.1, Shai S.E.1, Jakovleva J.V.1, Kovalev V.V.2
-
Affiliations:
- Ural State Medical University
- Blokhin Ural Institute of Health Management
- Issue: Vol 26, No 7 (2024): Women's and men's health
- Pages: 415-419
- Section: Articles
- URL: https://bakhtiniada.ru/2075-1753/article/view/270506
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.26442/20751753.2024.7.202933
- ID: 270506
Cite item
Full Text
Abstract
Background. The problem of infertility, including unexplained infertility (UEI), does not lose its relevance. It is known that infertile women are prone to emotional disorders. Such psychological changes can contribute to the development of sexual dysfunction.
Aim. To study the characteristics of sexual function in women with unexplained infertility.
Materials and methods. A comparative study of sexual function was conducted in 60 women with UEI aged 20–40 years (group 1). Group 2 consisted of 75 fertile women with at least one living healthy child and no history of infertility. Group 3 included 75 healthy nulliparous women who do not plan pregnancy and do not have a diagnosis of “Infertility”. The questionnaire “Index of Female Sexual Function” (FSFI) was used to assess sexual function. The following parameters were assessed: “desire”, “arousal”, “lubrication”, “orgasm”, “satisfaction”, “pain”, and the final score.
Results. The lowest values were in group 2. In this group, statistically significant differences were obtained with groups 1 and 3 in the parameters “Attraction”, “Arousal”, “Lubrication”, “Satisfaction”, “Orgasm”. In group 1, the final score was significantly higher than in groups 2 and 3 – 30.2 (26.3–31.7), 26.6 (23.7–28.8) and 28.3 (27.5–29.9); p<0.001, respectively. The highest proportion of women with sexual dysfunction (FSFI<26.55) was in group 2 – 37 (49.33%). In groups 1 and 3, the number of women with sexual dysfunction was 13 (21.66%) and 9 (12%), respectively (the differences between groups 1 and 3 were not significant).
Conclusion. The quality of sexual function was not associated with reproductive disorders. The lowest rates were in group 2. This is probably due to psychological aspects and anatomical changes in the pelvic floor after childbirth. Many women, regardless of the presence of children, need therapeutic and preventive sexological care. In the case of sexual dysfunctions that impair a woman's quality of life, qualified sexological and psychological assistance should be provided regardless of her fertility.
Full Text
##article.viewOnOriginalSite##About the authors
Elena V. Kudryavtseva
Ural State Medical University
Author for correspondence.
Email: elenavladpopova@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2797-1926
SPIN-code: 7232-3743
D. Sci. (Med.), Assoc. Prof.
Russian Federation, YekaterinburgDinara A. Berezina
Ural State Medical University
Email: dinara-berezina@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4685-6771
SPIN-code: 8696-2674
Graduate Student
Russian Federation, YekaterinburgSemyon E. Shai
Ural State Medical University
Email: shay_s@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0003-1199-6165
Medical Resident
Russian Federation, YekaterinburgJulia V. Jakovleva
Ural State Medical University
Email: julia_20112014@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0004-8442-6793
Medical Resident
Russian Federation, YekaterinburgVladislav V. Kovalev
Blokhin Ural Institute of Health Management
Email: vvkovalev55@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8640-8418
SPIN-code: 2061-0704
D. Sci. (Med.), Prof.
Russian Federation, YekaterinburgReferences
- Подзолкова Н.М., Сумятина Л.В. Сексуальная дисфункция – междисциплинарная проблема классической гинекологии. Гинекология. 2023;25:95-101 [Podzolkova NM, Sumyatina LV. Sexual dysfunction: an interdisciplinary problem of classical gynecology. Gynecology. 2023;25(1):95–101 (in Russian)]. doi: 10.26442/20795696.2023.1.202137
- Ворник Б.М. Женская сексология и сексопатология. М.: ГЭОТАР-медиа, 2020 [Vornik BM. Zhenskaia seksologiia i seksopatologiia. Moscow: GEOTAR-media, 2020 (in Russian)].
- Женское бесплодие. Клинические рекомендации. М., 2021 [Zhenskoie besplodiie. Klinicheskiie rekomendatsii. Moscow, 2021 (in Russian)].
- Kulaksiz D, Toprak T, Ayribas B, et al. The effect of male and female factor infertility on women’s anxiety, depression, self-esteem, quality of life and sexual function parameters: a prospective, cross-sectional study from Turkey. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2022;306:1349-55. doi: 10.1007/s00404-022-06713-y
- Cizmeli C, Lobel M, Franasiak J, Pastore LM. Levels and associations among self-esteem, fertility distress, coping, and reaction to potentially being a genetic carrier in women with diminished ovarian reserve. Fertil Steril. 2013;99:2037-44.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.02.033
- Dong M, Xu X, Li Y, et al. Impact of infertility duration on female sexual health. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2021;19:157. doi: 10.1186/s12958-021-00837-7
- Peterson BD, Newton CR, Feingold T. Anxiety and sexual stress in men and women undergoing infertility treatment. Fertil Steril. 2007;88:911-4. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2006.12.023
- Ledesma BR, Suarez Arbelaez MC, Grewal M, et al. The Impact of Ovulation Calculators on the Stress Levels of Fertility-Seeking Couples: An Evaluation Study. Cureus. 2023;15(8):e43972. doi: 10.7759/cureus.43972
- Fernandes J, Pedro J, Costa ME, Martins MV. Effect of depression and anxiety on sexual functioning in couples trying to conceive with and without an infertility diagnosis. Psychol Health. 2023;38:58-75. doi: 10.1080/08870446.2021.1955115
- Penzias A, Bendikson K, Falcone T, et al. Evidence-based treatments for couples with unexplained infertility: a guideline. Fertil Steril. 2020;113:305-22. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.10.014
- Infertility Workup for the Women’s Health Specialist. Obstet Gynecol. 2019;133:e377-84. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000003271
- Wiegel M, Meston C, Rosen R. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): Cross-Validation and Development of Clinical Cutoff Scores. J Sex Marital Ther. 2005;31:1-20. doi: 10.1080/00926230590475206
- Ndubuisi V, Ezugwu E, Chigbu C, et al. The Impact of Infertility on the Sexual Life of Infertile Women in Enugu, South East Nigeria. Niger J Clin Pract. 2021;24:1144. doi: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_436_20
- Kelley EL, Kingsberg SA. Sexuality and Infertility. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2024;51:311-22. doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2024.02.005
- Demirci H, Sen S. Sexual experiences of infertile women: A qualitative study. Niger J Clin Pract. 2023;26:229. doi: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_651_22
- Güleç G, Hassa H, Yalçın EG, Yenilmez C. The effects of infertility on sexual functions and dyadic adjustment in couples that present for infertility treatment. Turk Psikiyatri Derg. 2011;22:166-76.
- Alihocagil Emec Z, Ejder Apay S, Ozorhan EY. Determination and Comparison of Sexual Dysfunctions of Women With and Without Infertility Problems. Sex Disabil. 2017;35:59-72. doi: 10.1007/s11195-016-9471-7
- Ashrafi M, Jahangiri N, Jahanian Sadatmahalleh S, et al. Does prevalence of sexual dysfunction differ among the most common causes of infertility? A cross-sectional study. BMC Womens Health. 2022;22:140. doi: 10.1186/s12905-022-01708-y
- Keskin U, Coksuer H, Gungor S, et al. Differences in prevalence of sexual dysfunction between primary and secondary infertile women. Fertil Steril. 2011;96:1213-7. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.08.007
- Okobi OE. A Systemic Review on the Association Between Infertility and Sexual Dysfunction Among Women Utilizing Female Sexual Function Index as a Measuring Tool. Cureus. 2021;13(6):e16006. doi: 10.7759/cureus.16006
Supplementary files
