Fibromyalgia and sexual problems

The aim of this review was to describe the recent literature concerning sexual dysfunction in fibromyalgic patients. To this end, we used the common online databases PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE (up to June 2012) and searched for the key words fibromyalgia (FM) and sexual dysfunction. All the studies...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Reumatismo 2012-09, Vol.64 (4), p.261-267
Main Authors: Bazzichi, L, Giacomelli, C, Rossi, A, Sernissi, F, Scarpellini, P, Consensi, A, Bombardieri, S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chronic Pain - etiology
Evidence-Based Medicine
Fatigue - etiology
Female
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia - complications
Fibromyalgia - diagnosis
Fibromyalgia - psychology
Fibromyalgia - therapy
Fibromyalgia, sexual dysfunction, female
Humans
Interdisciplinary Communication
Psychological aspects
Quality of Life
Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological - etiology
Sexuality
Sleep Deprivation - etiology
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Summary:The aim of this review was to describe the recent literature concerning sexual dysfunction in fibromyalgic patients. To this end, we used the common online databases PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE (up to June 2012) and searched for the key words fibromyalgia (FM) and sexual dysfunction. All the studies examined underlined that FM is strictly associated with sexual dysfunction in women. The major findings observed were related to a decreased sexual desire and arousal, decreased experience of orgasm, and in some studies an increase in genital pain. The psychological aspects, together with the stress related to the constant presence of chronic widespread pain, fatigue and sleep disturbances, are certainly a major factor that adversely affects the sexuality of the patient with FM. Moreover, the drugs most commonly used in these cases may interfere negatively on the sexuality and sexual function of these patients. Therefore, the therapeutic intervention should be targeted and the side effects should be weighed up against the positive effects. It is of the utmost importance to recognise the problem of sexuality and sexual dysfunction in a more complex form of its expression and undertake a multidisciplinary therapeutic intervention to improve the quality of FM patients' life.
ISSN:0048-7449
2240-2683
DOI:10.4081/reumatismo.2012.261