Gynecological diseases as predictors of female sexual dysfunction

Background. Female sexual dysfunction is extremely common and affects about half of the world’s women. Currently, the question of the relationship between gynecological morbidity in women and the characteristics of sexual activity and sexual functioning in a couple remains poorly understood.

Aim. To establish gynecological diseases associated with decreased sexual functioning, sexual health disorders in women on the basis of a screening assessment when visiting the clinic.

Materials and methods. We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study of the sexual functioning of 1256 women who presented to outpatient appointments. Anamnestic and clinical methods were used, sexological testing using the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire.

Results. Based on anamnestic data, screening assessment of sexual health and sexual functioning of 1235 women who applied for outpatient appointments to a gynecological clinic, a high gynecological and extragenital morbidity was established in patients (100%). The structure of gynecological diseases is represented by female infertility (48.3%), inflammatory diseases of the genital organs (38.5%; of which salpingo-oophoritis – 16.6% and vulvovaginitis – 15.9%), endometriosis (13.9%) , menstrual irregularities (8.3%), as well as pain disorders (8.1%). The incidence of infections, predominantly sexually transmitted, was revealed, among them papillomatous viral infection (8.3%), genital herpes (5.3%) and chlamydia (3.7%). It was found that in gynecological patients with diseases characterized by a chronic course, inflammation, pelvic pain, menstrual and reproductive disorders, sexual functioning significantly decreases (p=0.00) and sexual health is impaired. Sexual dysfunctions were detected in 21.6% of patients, their structure is represented by isolated (39.3%) and combined (60.7%) disorders of libido, orgasm, sexual anhedonia, failure of genital response, as well as dyspareunia, vaginismus. In 33.7% of patients, preclinical forms of sexual dysfunction were identified that did not meet the criteria for sexual dysfunction (did not cause distress, were short-lived), but confirmed by the analysis of patient complaints, as well as by the results of the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire.

Conclusion. Thus, chronic gynecological diseases with inflammatory manifestations, pelvic pain, menstrual and reproductive dysfunctions are associated with decreased sexual functioning, sexual dysfunctions, and preclinical forms of sexual dysfunctions.