Association between obstructive sleep apnea and female sexual dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Sexual dysfunction in women with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is currently an underappreciated problem. This study aimed to clarify the association between OSA and female sexual dysfunction (FSD) through a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing studies.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for clinical observational studies of OSA and FSD from the database inception to November 2024. The outcome measures included the prevalence of FSD and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) score. A random-effects model was utilized to generate pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for FSD prevalence, and standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% CI for FSFI scores.

RESULTS

This review included 11 studies, involving 1,317,856 women with OSA and 1,317,899 controls. The overall results showed that OSA was associated with an increased risk of FSD (OR 2.56; 95% CI 1.38-4.75) and lower FSFI scores (SMD - 0.72; 95% CI - 1.24 to - 0.20).

CONCLUSIONS

Female sexual dysfunction is associated with OSA, and the prevalence of sexual dysfunction is higher in women with OSA than in the control group. More studies are needed to confirm the association between OSA and sexual dysfunction.