Sexual dysfunction in patients with painful bladder syndrome.

PURPOSE: The degree of sexual dysfunction in patients with Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS) has not been documented previously. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was used to measure the degree of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in these patients.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The FSFI was administered on-line to female patients with self-reported PBS. This 19-item questionnaire evaluated FSD in six domains: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain.

RESULTS

The data was analyzed on an item-for-item basis and by the six domains of sexual dysfunction for 100 patients and compared to a control group of 131 healthy volunteers and a second group consisting of 128 patients with Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD). When compared with the controls, PBS patients self-report sexual dysfunction in all domains evaluated by the FSFI.

CONCLUSIONS

The degree of FSD in PBS patients is significantly higher in all domains when compared to the control group.