OBJECTIVES: To evaluate female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in women with interstitial cystitis (IC) versus a control group. Specific areas of FSD in women with IC have not been reported. METHODS: A mailed survey was sent to 5000 randomly selected women from the United States (controls) and 407 women with IC from a large referral center (cases). The Female Sexual Distress Scale and questions about sexual function, desire, orgasm, and pain were included. The Student t test was used to compare the mean values, and the chi-square test was used to compare the proportions between the cases and controls. RESULTS: During adolescence (the start of menstruation through age 18), having had intercourse, levels of sexual desire, and orgasm frequency did not differ significantly between the cases and controls. However, a significantly greater proportion of cases reported fear of pain (P = 0.018) and pain with intercourse (P = 0.001). In adulthood, a significantly greater proportion of cases reported having pelvic pain, fear of pain during intercourse, and dyspareunia (P <0.001 for all). Furthermore, after the diagnosis of IC, the number of cases reporting moderate to high desire (P <0.001) and orgasm frequently and very frequently declined significantly (P <0.001). The mean value of the Female Sexual Distress Scale was greater among established IC cases (18.5 +/- 14.3) compared with controls (8.3 +/- 10.2; P <0.001). A score of 15 or greater on the Female Sexual Distress Scale has been associated with sexual distress. CONCLUSIONS: Women with IC have significantly more FSD and sexual distress than women without IC. Additional study is needed to explore the multiple factors contributing to FSD in IC.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in women with interstitial cystitis (IC) versus a control group. Specific areas of FSD in women with IC have not been reported. METHODS: A mailed survey was sent to 5000 randomly selected women from the United States (controls) and 407 women with IC from a large referral center (cases). The Female Sexual Distress Scale and questions about sexual function, desire, orgasm, and pain were included. The Student t test was used to compare the mean values, and the chi-square test was used to compare the proportions between the cases and controls. RESULTS: During adolescence (the start of menstruation through age 18), having had intercourse, levels of sexual desire, and orgasm frequency did not differ significantly between the cases and controls. However, a significantly greater proportion of cases reported fear of pain (P = 0.018) and pain with intercourse (P = 0.001). In adulthood, a significantly greater proportion of cases reported having pelvic pain, fear of pain during intercourse, and dyspareunia (P <0.001 for all). Furthermore, after the diagnosis of IC, the number of cases reporting moderate to high desire (P <0.001) and orgasm frequently and very frequently declined significantly (P <0.001). The mean value of the Female Sexual Distress Scale was greater among established IC cases (18.5 +/- 14.3) compared with controls (8.3 +/- 10.2; P <0.001). A score of 15 or greater on the Female Sexual Distress Scale has been associated with sexual distress. CONCLUSIONS:Women with IC have significantly more FSD and sexual distress than women without IC. Additional study is needed to explore the multiple factors contributing to FSD in IC.
Authors: Robert E Hurst; Samuel Van Gordon; Karl Tyler; Bradley Kropp; Rheal Towner; HsuehKung Lin; John O Marentette; Jane McHowat; Ehsan Mohammedi; Beverley Greenwood-Van Meerveld Journal: Am J Physiol Renal Physiol Date: 2016-02-24
Authors: J Quentin Clemens; Elizabeth A Calhoun; Mark S Litwin; Mary McNaughton-Collins; John W Kusek; Evelyn M Crowley; J Richard Landis Journal: Urology Date: 2009-10-02 Impact factor: 2.649