The aim of this study is to assess sexual functioning in a group of married women with rheumatoid arthritis using a self-questionnaire.
This is a horizontal study for descriptive and analytical purposes. (between October and November 2010). Married women with a confirmed diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with no co morbidities that may affect sexual activity, were interviewed about their sexual functioning and their quality of life by a self report questionnaire.
A total of 10 patients who met the criteria have accepted to participate to the study. Their mean age was 42.5±5.8 years (32-50 years), their mean age at the marriage was 24.8±8.9 years (16-48 years). Six women thought that the disease had affected their sexual relationship and their sexual activity. Six patients reported a decrease in the frequency of intercourse since the onset of their disease. The reported mean age at the beginning of sexual (SD) dysfunction was 37.1±5.8 years (30-48 years). Six of the sample reported a diminished desire for a sexual relationship since the disease onset. The reasons were pain, physical disability and fatigue. The assessment of sexual functioning using the Female sexual function index (FSFI) showed a mean FSFI score at 19.2±9.8 (2-30) with seven women scoring in the range associated with clinical SD (<26). All the subscales were affected: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm and satisfaction. Our patients reported a mean total score on World Health Quality of Life-Brief Version (WHOQOL-brief) of 60 out of 120 indicating a moderate altered quality of life.
The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women with RA is high when a specific questionnaire is used to assess it. The reasons for disturbed sexual functioning are multifactorial: impaired function, chronic pain and important fatigue.