Prevalence of Female Sexual Dysfunction among Psoriatic Females: a Cross Sectional Case Controlled Study

Mohamed Elsaie; Noha Hanafy; Sherief Hussein; Ola  Abu Zeid; Mohamed Zaky; Ramadan Eldahshan; Hesham Nada; Osama Sayedahmed; Yasmin El Zawahry

doi:10.5826/dpc.1303a209

Prevalence of Female Sexual Dysfunction among Psoriatic Females: a Cross Sectional Case Controlled Study

Authors

Mohamed Elsaie Department of Dermatology, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre, Egypt
Noha Hanafy Department of Dermatology, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre, Egypt
Sherief Hussein Department of Dermatology, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre, Egypt
Ola Abu Zeid Department of Dermatology, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre, Egypt
Mohamed Zaky Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Egypt
Ramadan Eldahshan Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Egypt
Hesham Nada Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
Osama Sayedahmed Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Egypt
Yasmin El Zawahry Department of Dermatology, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre, Egypt

Keywords:

female sexual dysfunction, marriage, autoimmune, psoriasis, female

Abstract

Introduction: Sexual relationships are an integral part of females psychological and physiological wellbeing.

Objectives: The study aimed to identify prevalence and impact of Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) in women affected with psoriasis.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 150 married females who were interviewed to answer Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire and were divided into two groups: the first group included 100 female patients complaining of psoriasis (50 suffering from moderate psoriasis and 50 with severe psoriasis). The disease severity was graded according to the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) while the second group included 50 age matched women who served as controls.

Results: Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in psoriasis female groups was higher than that in the control group (47%, 24%, P < 0.05). The mean total scores of FSFI ranged from 12.30 to 34.20 and were significantly lower in the severe PASI affected group (22.34 ± 5.35) when compared to moderate PASI group (26.24 ± 2.67) or control group (28.79 ± 2.22). In addition, total scores were significantly lower among moderate PASI affected females when compared to control group.

Conclusions: Sexual dysfunction should be routinely investigated in female patients with psoriasis in the case of moderate-severe disease due to its negative impact on quality of life. Further research over the effect of certain interventional programs on FSD should be considered for patients suffering from psoriasis.

References

Obaid ZM, Amer AW, Zaky MS, et al. Prevalence of female sexual dysfunction among diabetic females: a cross-sectional case controlled study. Postgrad Med. 2022;134(7):680-685. DOI: 10.1080/00325481.2022.2102842. PMID: 35838136.

Boone D, Ronson A, Karsh J. Comparison of Female Sexual Function Index in patients with psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis and healthy controls. Musculoskeletal Care. 2019;17(3):226-230. DOI: 10.1002/msc.1405. PMID: 31219665.

Caputo V, Strafella C, Termine A, et al. Overview of the molecular determinants contributing to the expression of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis phenotypes. J Cell Mol Med. 2020;24(23):13554-13563. DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.15742. PMID: 33128843. PMCID: PMC7754002.

Caputo V, Strafella C, Cosio T, et al. Pharmacogenomics: An Update on Biologics and Small-Molecule Drugs in the Treatment of Psoriasis. Genes (Basel). 2021;12(9):1398. DOI: 10.3390/genes12091398. PMID: 34573380. PMCID: PMC8470543.

Duarte GV, Calmon H, Radel G, de Fátima Paim de Oliveira M. Psoriasis and sexual dysfunction: links, risks, and management challenges. Psoriasis (Auckl). 2018;8:93-99. DOI: 10.2147/PTT.S159916. PMID: 30574453. PMCID: PMC6292237.

Alariny AF, Farid CI, Elweshahi HM, Abbood SS. Psychological and Sexual Consequences of Psoriasis Vulgaris on Patients and Their Partners. J Sex Med. 2019;16(12):1900-1911. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.08.017. PMID: 31542353.

Reebye P. Psychodermatology: The Psychological Impact of Skin Disorders. J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2008;17(3):169–171. PMCID: PMC2527778.

Hassanin IM, Helmy YA, Fathalla MM, Shahin AY. Prevalence and characteristics of female sexual dysfunction in a sample of women from Upper Egypt. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2010;108(3):219-223. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2009.09.031. PMID: 20006846.

Mustafa AI, Mohamed El Esawy FM, Fawzy I. Female Sexual Dysfunction Among Married Women from the Nile Delta of Egypt. International Journal of Sexual Health. 2019;31(2):131-141. DOI 10.1080/19317611.2019.1595257

Ibrahim ZM, Ahmed MR, Sayed Ahmed WA. Prevalence and risk factors for female sexual dysfunction among Egyptian women. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2013;287(6):1173-1180. DOI: 10.1007/s00404-012-2677-8. PMID: 23274790.

Rosen R, Brown C, Heiman J, et al. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): a multidimensional self-report instrument for the assessment of female sexual function. J Sex Marital Ther. 2000;26(2):191-208. DOI: 10.1080/009262300278597. PMID: 10782451.

Abu Ali RM, Al Hajeri RM, Khader YS, Shegem NS, Ajlouni KM. Sexual dysfunction in Jordanian diabetic women. Diabetes Care. 2008;31(8):1580-1581. DOI: 10.2337/dc08-0081. PMID: 18458140. PMCID: PMC2494660.

Anis TH, Gheit SA, Saied HS, Al kherbash SA. Arabic translation of Female Sexual Function Index and validation in an Egyptian population. J Sex Med. 2011;8(12):3370-3378. DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02471.x. PMID: 21995610.

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):1-20. DOI: 10.1080/00926230590475206. PMID: 15841702.

Nassar AA, Ibrahim AM, Salem HM. The effect of Psoriasis on Female Sexual Function. The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine. 2021;84:1686-1689. DOI: 10.21608/EJHM.2021.175730

Bardazzi F, Evangelista V, Ferrara F, et al. Does psoriasis influence female sexual dysfunction? A multicentric Italian case-control study. Ital J Dermatol Venerol. 2022;157(5):432-435. DOI: 10.23736/S2784-8671.21.07128-0. PMID: 34545729.

Khaled HN, El-Sabagh EA, Bazid HA. Female sexual dysfunction in patients with psoriasis and vitiligo: an Egyptian pilot study. J Egypt Womens Dermatol Soc. 2021;18:22-34. DOI: 10.4103/JEWD.JEWD_51_20

Maaty AS, Gomaa AH, Mohammed GF, Youssef IM, Eyada MM. Assessment of female sexual function in patients with psoriasis. J Sex Med. 2013;10(6):1545-1548. DOI: 10.1111/jsm.12119. PMID: 23530657.

Türel Ermertcan A, Temeltaş G, Deveci A, Dinç G, Güler HB, Oztürkcan S. Sexual dysfunction in patients with psoriasis. J Dermatol. 2006;33(11):772-778. DOI: 10.1111/j.1346-8138.2006.00179.x. PMID: 17073992.

Frank E, Anderson C, Rubinstein D. Frequency of sexual dysfunction in "normal" couples. N Engl J Med. 1978;299(3):111-115. DOI: 10.1056/NEJM197807202990302. PMID: 661870.

Kwan Z, Baharum N, Yong SS, Mohd Affandi A, Johar A. Sexual difficulties and associated factors among patients with psoriasis in Malaysia: data from the Malaysian Psoriasis registry. Psychol Health Med. 2022;27(5):1011-1020. DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2020.1831557. PMID: 33044840.

Ermertcan AT. Sexual dysfunction in dermatological diseases. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2009;23(9):999-1007. DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2009.03139.x. PMID: 19250323.

Meeuwis KA, de Hullu JA, van de Nieuwenhof HP, et al. Quality of life and sexual health in patients with genital psoriasis. Br J Dermatol. 2011;164(6):1247-1255. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2011.10249.x. PMID: 21332459.

Kimball AB, Gieler U, Linder D, Sampogna F, Warren RB, Augustin M. Psoriasis: is the impairment to a patient's life cumulative? J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2010;24(9):989-1004. DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2010.03705.x. PMID: 20477920.

Fortune DG, Richards HL, Main CJ, Griffiths CE. Pathological worrying, illness perceptions and disease severity in patients with psoriasis. Br J Health Psychol. 2000;5:71–82.

Mostafa AM, Khamis Y, Helmy HK, Arafa AE, Abbas AM. Prevalence and patterns of female sexual dysfunction among overweight and obese premenopausal women in Upper Egypt; a cross sectional study. Middle East Fertility Society Journal 2018; 23(1):68-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mefs.2017.08.006

Yaylali GF, Tekekoglu S, Akin F. Sexual dysfunction in obese and overweight women. Int J Impot Res. 2010;22(4):220-226. DOI: 10.1038/ijir.2010.7. PMID: 20485360.

Molina-Leyva A, Jiménez-Moleón JJ, Naranjo-Sintes R, Ruiz-Carrascosa JC. Sexual dysfunction in psoriasis: a systematic review. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2015;29(4):649-655. DOI: 10.1111/jdv.12845. PMID: 25424331.

Guenther L, Han C, Szapary P, et al. Impact of ustekinumab on health-related quality of life and sexual difficulties associated with psoriasis: results from two phase III clinical trials. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2011;25(7):851-857. DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2011.04082.x. PMID: 21521375.

Ruiz-Villaverde R, Sánchez-Cano D, Rodrigo JR, Gutierrez CV. Pilot study of sexual dysfunction in patients with psoriasis: influence of biologic therapy. Indian J Dermatol. 2011;56(6):694-699. DOI: 10.4103/0019-5154.91831. PMID: 22345773. PMCID: PMC3276899.

Shah SFH, Merchant SA, Shah SA. Female sexual dysfunction in psoriasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis using the Female Sexual Function Index. Int J Impot Res. 2022. DOI: 10.1038/s41443-022-00650-9. PMID: 36456639.