Evaluation of sexual dysfunction in females with neck and upper back myofascial pain syndrome: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: Rheumatology international 2023-09, Vol.43 (9), p.1723-1732
• Main Authors: Yılmaz, Ramazan, Karpuz, Savaş, Akdere, Emine, Yılmaz, Halim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Chronic Pain - complications; Condoms; Cross-Sectional Studies; Fatigue - complications; Female; Fibromyalgia - complications; Fibromyalgia - diagnosis; Humans; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Myofascial Pain Syndromes - complications; Myofascial Pain Syndromes - diagnosis; Observational Research; Pain; Patients; Rheumatic Diseases - complications; Rheumatology; Sexual disorders; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - complications; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - epidemiology; Sexual intercourse
• ISSN: 1437-160X; 0172-8172; 1437-160X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00296-023-05359-6

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a prevalent chronic musculoskeletal pain disorder that is frequently encountered in clinical practice and can cause sexual dysfunction in women. While there have been studies examining sexual function in various painful rheumatic conditions, particularly fibromyalgia, no studies have been conducted specifically on primary MPS. In this context, we aimed to investigate the frequency of sexual intercourse and the factors associated with it in women diagnosed with MPS. The study was designed as a cross-sectional study at a tertiary rehabilitation center between May 2022 and April 2023. Forty-five consecutive sexually active women (mean age: 38.1 ± 6.8 years) diagnosed with primary MPS were included in the study. They were compared to 45 healthy women of similar ages. The participants were interviewed regarding their weekly frequency of sexual intercourse and the importance of sexual life. Also, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were assessed. The importance of sexual life score (p = 0.008), BDI (p