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. 2023 Aug 20;11(16):2346.
doi: 10.3390/healthcare11162346.

The Impact of Systemic Sclerosis on Sexual Health: An Italian Survey

Alessandro Ferdinando Ruffolo  1   2 , Maurizio Serati  3 , Arianna Casiraghi  1 , Vittoria Benini  1 , Chiara Scancarello  3 , Maria Carmela Di Dedda  4 , Carla Garbagnati  5 , Andrea Braga  6 , Massimo Candiani  1 , Stefano Salvatore  1
Affiliations

The Impact of Systemic Sclerosis on Sexual Health: An Italian Survey

Alessandro Ferdinando Ruffolo et al. Healthcare (Basel). .

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the impact of systemic sclerosis (SSc) on vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) and sexual health in an Italian population.

Methods: An Italian survey about the prevalence and severity of VVA (on a 0 to 10 scale) and sexual dysfunction (using the Female Sexual Function Index-FSFI) through an anonymous online questionnaire. We investigated couple relationships and intimacy with partners, the predisposition of patients to talk about their sexual problems, physicians' receptivity, and treatment scenarios. Risk factors for VVA symptoms and sexual dysfunction were assessed.

Results: A total of 107 women affected by SSc were enrolled. Of these, 83.2% of women (89/107) complained about VVA symptoms and 89.7% (among sexually active women; 87/97) about sexual dysfunction. Menopausal status did not affect VVA symptoms, while age was the only independent risk factor for sexual dysfunction. About 70% (74/107) of women reported a negative impact of disturbances on intimacy with their partner. A total of 63 women (58.9%) had never discussed their sexual problems and VVA condition with a physician. Lubricants were the only treatment prescribed, and 75% of women would welcome new therapies, even if experimental (62.9%).

Conclusions: In women with SSc, VVA symptoms and sexual dysfunction are highly prevalent, independently from menopause. In more than half of the investigated women with SSc, we found reluctance to talk about their sexual problems, despite being symptomatic. This should encourage physicians to investigate vulvovaginal and sexual health. SSc patients would welcome the advent of new treatment possibilities for their VVA and sexual complaints.

Keywords: genitourinary syndrome of menopause; quality of life; sexual dysfunction; sexual health; systemic sclerosis; vulvovaginal symptoms.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Influence of systemic sclerosis on intimacy with their partners reported by affected women.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Kind of physicians involved in the assessment of women’s vulvovaginal atrophy symptoms and sexual health.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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