TY - JOUR
T1 - Qualitative and quantitative aspects of sex life in the context of endometriosis: a multicentre case control study
AU - Bernays, Valerie
AU - Schwartz, Alexandra Kohl
AU - Geraedts, Kirsten
AU - Rauchfuss, Martina
AU - Wölfler, Monika Maria
AU - Haeberlin, Felix
AU - von Orelli, Stephanie
AU - Eberhard, Markus
AU - Imthurn, Bruno
AU - Fink, Daniel
AU - Imesch, Patrick
AU - Leeners, Brigitte
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Research question What are the specific characteristics of sexual activity in women with endometriosis compared with women without endometriosis? Design Multicentre case control study. Participants were recruited from university hospitals, district hospitals and doctor’s offices in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. A total of 565 women with endometriosis were pair-matched to 565 control women by age and ethnic background. Diagnosis of endometriosis was confirmed by histology, and disease stage was classified according to American Society for Reproductive Medicine criteria. Data on sexuality were collected using selected questions from the Brief Index of Sexual Function and the Sexual History Form. Results Altogether, 69.1% of women with endometriosis and 77.8% of control women engaged in sexual activity during the month before the study period (P < 0.001). Overall, 42.3% of endometriosis-affected women and 30.5% of the control women desired a higher frequency of sexual activity (P < 0.001). Petting, foreplay and vaginal sexual intercourse were reported to be practised less often by women with endometriosis. Frequencies for masturbation, reciprocal masturbation, oral and anal sex were similar in both groups. Dyspareunia was negatively associated with sexual activity (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.26 to 4.63), whereas chronic pain showed no association with sexual activity (OR 1.35, 95% CI 0.93, 1.96). Conclusions Women with endometriosis have lower frequencies of petting, foreplay and vaginal sexual intercourse than control women; this difference has to be attributed, at least in part, to dyspareunia. Potentially pain-free sexual options are used to a limited degree. As endometriosis-affected women desire higher levels of sexual activity, sexual counselling should be included in medical support.
AB - Research question What are the specific characteristics of sexual activity in women with endometriosis compared with women without endometriosis? Design Multicentre case control study. Participants were recruited from university hospitals, district hospitals and doctor’s offices in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. A total of 565 women with endometriosis were pair-matched to 565 control women by age and ethnic background. Diagnosis of endometriosis was confirmed by histology, and disease stage was classified according to American Society for Reproductive Medicine criteria. Data on sexuality were collected using selected questions from the Brief Index of Sexual Function and the Sexual History Form. Results Altogether, 69.1% of women with endometriosis and 77.8% of control women engaged in sexual activity during the month before the study period (P < 0.001). Overall, 42.3% of endometriosis-affected women and 30.5% of the control women desired a higher frequency of sexual activity (P < 0.001). Petting, foreplay and vaginal sexual intercourse were reported to be practised less often by women with endometriosis. Frequencies for masturbation, reciprocal masturbation, oral and anal sex were similar in both groups. Dyspareunia was negatively associated with sexual activity (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.26 to 4.63), whereas chronic pain showed no association with sexual activity (OR 1.35, 95% CI 0.93, 1.96). Conclusions Women with endometriosis have lower frequencies of petting, foreplay and vaginal sexual intercourse than control women; this difference has to be attributed, at least in part, to dyspareunia. Potentially pain-free sexual options are used to a limited degree. As endometriosis-affected women desire higher levels of sexual activity, sexual counselling should be included in medical support.
KW - Dyspareunia
KW - Endometriosis
KW - Sexual activities
KW - Sexuality
U2 - 10.1016/j.rbmo.2019.10.015
DO - 10.1016/j.rbmo.2019.10.015
M3 - Article
SN - 1472-6483
VL - 40
SP - 296
EP - 304
JO - Reproductive BioMedicine Online
JF - Reproductive BioMedicine Online
IS - 2
ER -