Sexual dysfunction affects nearly 80% of women with Sjögren’s
Study: More awareness, recognition of sexual health in clinical practice needed
Nearly 80% of women with Sjögren’s disease experience sexual dysfunction, with common symptoms including vaginal dryness, lower sexual satisfaction, and difficulty with arousal, a Chinese study finds.
The findings highlight the need of “increased awareness and recognition of sexual health in clinical practice,” the researchers wrote, adding that “policymakers may consider the findings when formulating guidelines for the comprehensive care of patients with [Sjögren’s], ensuring that sexual health is included in the services provided.” The study, “Sexual dysfunction in women with Sjögren’s syndrome: a cross-sectional observational study,” was published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Sjögren’s disease is an autoimmune condition wherein the moisture-producing glands, including those responsible for making saliva and tears, undergo attack. While persistent dryness in the eyes and mouth are common symptoms, the disease can also impact sexual health. Evidence suggests there’s a high prevalence of sexual dysfunction among women, which can negatively affect their quality of life.
“Despite the risk of women developing [Sjögren’s] being nine times that of men, there are relatively few studies on [sexual dysfunction] in female patients with [Sjögren’s],” wrote the researchers, who analyzed data from 158 women (mean age, 41.2) who’d been followed at three hospitals in Beijing between January 2021 and December 2023 to better understand the sexual challenges faced by women with Sjögren’s.
Sexual dysfunction and Sjögren’s disease
Of the women, 124 (78.5%) experienced sexual dysfunction, according to the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) score criteria. FSFI is a standardized questionnaire that assesses sexual function in women and evaluates six key domains, with higher scores indicating better sexual function. A FSFI score below 26.5 indicates sexual dysfunction.
Common symptoms included reduced libido (79%), difficulty with sexual arousal (71.8%), vaginal dryness (66.1%), trouble achieving orgasm (77.4%), lower sexual satisfaction (81.5%), and pain during intercourse (75%). Women with sexual dysfunction were generally older and had been living with Sjögren’s longer than those without sexual dysfunction.
Even after accounting for medication use, including immunosuppressants and corticosteroids, mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, and socioeconomic factors such as employment and income, the link between Sjögren’s and sexual dysfunction remained significant. Researchers found that 67.7% of women were on immunosuppressants, 44.3% took corticosteroids, and 41.5% reported anxiety or depression. Also, 64.2% were employed. But these factors didn’t change the overall findings about Sjögren’s impact on sexual function.
When assessing the prevalence of sexual dysfunction according to age, women age 40 or older had significantly lower FSFI scores, indicating worse sexual function, than younger patients.
The findings show that “given the potential negative effects of [Sjögren’s] on female sexual function, clinical management strategies must extend beyond conventional disease treatment to incorporate a comprehensive assessment of patients’ sexual health, which should include, but not be limited to, aspects such as libido, sexual arousal, orgasm and [pain during sexual intercourse],” the researchers wrote.
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