Sexual and mental health of woman suffering from selected connective tissue diseases: an original paper

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the sexual and mental health of women suffering from connective tissue diseases and to determine the potential interrelationships between the studied clinical variables and sexual and mental health.

Methods: The study was conducted in a group of women with connective tissue diseases. To assess somatic health, we used The Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ-DI), and to assess sexual health, we used the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire (KSS). The mental health was assessed by using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-M) and the PERMA-Profiler (PL).

Results: The study involved 81 women suffering from connective tissue diseases, especially rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Clinical symptoms of sexual dysfunction were observed in 54% women. The biggest difficulties occur in sexual desire, orgasm and arousal. Patients had symptoms of anxiety and depressive disorders. Higher levels of anxiety and depression are associated with poorer overall sexual functioning and better overall sexual functioning, and all its dimensions are associated with a higher level of mental well-being. There was also an observed relationship with the functional limitation due to pain and duration of the disease.

Conclusion: The study confirms the existence of difficulties in the sexual functioning of women suffering from connective tissue diseases and shows the relationship between sexual and mental health and basic disease. The observed relationships are important information in the treatment and medical care of people with this group of rheumatic diseases. Key Points • The article presents one of the few studies about sexual functioning of Polish population women with connective tissue diseases. • The aim was to assess the sexual and mental health of women with various connective tissue diseases and determine the potential interrelationships between the clinical variables and sexual and mental health. • The study confirms difficulties in the sexual functioning of women with connective tissue diseases. The biggest difficulties occur in sexual desire, orgasm and arousal. Patients also had mental disorders symptoms. • The study presents conclusions and indications which may be important and help specialists approach the treatment process in an interdisciplinary way.

Keywords: Anxiety; Connective tissue diseases; Mental health; Sexual functioning; Sexual health.