Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of sexual functions in female patients with ankylosing spondylitis compared with healthy controls

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Rheumatology International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

Healthy human sexuality is integral to a well-lived life. Recent studies reported that sexual problems were common in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in relation to the consequences of the illness such as pain, stiffness of the spine and depression. Twenty-three female patients with AS and 27 healthy female controls were applied the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) to determine the influence of the disease on sexual functions. The rate of low sexual function was 60.9% in female patients with AS and 66.7% in healthy controls (P > 0.05). Ten patients were depressed in our study group according to the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), while 15 healthy controls were depressed (P > 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found between the female patients and controls in FSFI and BDI scores. There was a significant correlation between BDI and total FSFI, desire and orgasm domains in female patients with AS. Pain, disease activity and functional status of the patients with AS were correlated with FSFI. However, there was no correlation between spinal mobility, laboratory parameters and sexual functions. General health, vitality, emotional role and mental health subscales of Short Form-36 were correlated with total FSFI scores. We did not find any relationship between AS quality of life scale and sexual functions. Sexual dysfunctions are common, but not different in female patients with AS when compared with healthy controls. Sexual problems in female patients with AS seem to be associated with higher depression level, increased disease activity, decreased functionality, higher pain scores and decreased quality of life.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

References

  1. Tristano AG (2009) The impact of rheumatic diseases on sexual function. Rheumatol Int 29:853–860

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Baysal O, Durmus B, Ersoy Y, Altay Z, Senel K, Nas K, Ugur M, Kaya A, Gur A, Erdal A, Ardicoglu O, Tekeoglu I, Cevik R, Yildirim K, Kamanli A, Sarac AJ, Karatay S, Ozgocmen S (2011) Relationship between psychological status and disease activity and quality of life in ankylosing spondylitis. Rheumatol Int 31:795–800

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Domone C (2009) Sexual function in women: what is normal? Int Urogynecol J 20:9–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Lightner DJ (2002) Female sexual dysfunction. Mayo Clin Proc 77:698–702

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Cakar E, Dincer U, Kiralp MZ, Taskaynatan MA, Yasar E, Bayman EO, Ozgul A, Dursun H (2007) Sexual problems in male ankylosing spondylitis patients: relationship with functionality, disease activity, quality of life, and emotional status. Clin Rheumatol 26:1607–1613

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Pirildar T, Muezzinoglu T, Pirildar S (2004) Sexual function in ankylosing spondylitis: a study of 65 men. J Urol 171:1598–1600

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Dincer U, Cakar E, Kiralp MZ, Dursun H (2007) Assessment of sexual dysfunction in male patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis. Rheumatol Int 27:561–566

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Lee W, Reveille J, Davis JJ, Learch T, Ward M, Weisman M (2007) Are there gender differences in severity of ankylosing spondylitis? Results from the PSOAS cohort. Ann Rheum Dis 66:633–638

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Kingsberg S, Althof S (2009) Evaluation and treatment of female sexual disorders. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 20:33–34

    Google Scholar 

  10. Rosen R, Brown C, Heiman J, Leiblum S, Meston C, Shabsigh R, Ferguson D, D’agostino RJ (2000) The female sexual function index (FSFI): a multidimensional self-report instrument for the assessment of female sexual function. J Sex Marital Ther 26:191–208

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. van der Linden S, Valkenburg HA, Cats A (1984) Evaluation of diagnostic criteria for ankylosing spondylitis. a proposal for modification of the New York criteria. Arthritis Rheum 27:361–368

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Verit F, Verit A, Billurcu A (2009) Low sexual function and its associated risk factors in pre- and postmenopausal women without clinically significant depression. Maturitas 64:38–42

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Wiegel M, Meston C, Rosen R (2005) The female sexual function index (FSFI): cross-validation and development of clinical cutoff scores. J Sex Marital Ther 31:1–20

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Oksuz E, Malhan S (2006) Prevalence and risk factors for female sexual dysfunction in Turkish women. J Urol 175:654–658

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Beck AT, Ward CH, Mendelson M, Mock J, Erbaugh J (1961) An inventory for measuring depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry 4:561–571

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Garrett S, Jenkinson T, Kennedy LG, Whitelock H, Gaisford P, Calin A (1994) A new approach to defining disease status in ankylosing spondylitis: the bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index. J Rheumatol 21:2286–2291

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Akkoc Y, Karatepe AG, Akar S, Kirazli Y, Akkoc N (2005) A Turkish version of the bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index: reliability and validity. Rheumatol Int 25:280–284

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Calin A, Garrett S, Whitelock H, Kennedy LG, O’Hea J, Mallorie P, Jenkinson T (1994) A new approach to defining functional ability in ankylosing spondylitis: the development of the bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index. J Rheumatol 21:2281–2285

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Karatepe AG, Akkoc Y, Akar S, Kirazli Y, Akkoc N (2005) The Turkish versions of the bath ankylosing spondylitis and dougados functional indices: reliability and validity. Rheumatol Int 25:612–618

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Jenkinson TR, Mallorie PA, Whitelock HC, Kennedy LG, Garrett SL, Calin A (1994) Defining spinal mobility in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The bath AS metrology index. J Rheumatol 21:1694–1698

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Ware JJ, Sherbourne C (1992) The MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36). I. Conceptual framework and item selection. Med Care 30:473–483

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Doward LC, Spoorenberg A, Cook SA, Whalley D, Helliwell PS, Kay LJ, McKenna SP, Tennant A, van der Heijde D, Chamberlain MA (2003) Development of ASQoL: a quality of life instrument specific to ankylosing spondylitis. Ann Rheum Dis 62:20–26

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Demirsoy AC (1999) The MOS SF-36 health survey: a validation study with a Turkish sample. Thesis, Bogazici University, Istanbul

  24. Duruoz T, Doward L, Cerrahoglu L, Turan Y, Yurtkuran M, Calis M et al. (2007) Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the ankylosing spondylitis quality of life (ASQoL) scale. In: Proceedings of the 21th congress of national physical medicine and rehabilitation, Antalya, Turkey, p 50

  25. Rkain H, Allali F, Bentalha A, Lazrak N, Abouqal R, Hajjaj-Hassouni N (2007) Socioeconomic impact of ankylosing spondylitis in Morocco. Clin Rheumatol 26:2081–2088

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Bal S, Bal K, Turan Y, Deniz G, Gurgan A, Berkit IK, Sendur OF (2011) Sexual functions in ankylosing spondylitis. Rheumatol Int 31:889–894

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Ozgul A, Peker F, Taskaynatan MA, Tan AK, Dincer K, Kalyon TA (2006) Effect of ankylosing spondylitis on health-related quality of life and different aspects of social life in young patients. Clin Rheumatol 25:168–174

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Akkus Y, Nakas D, Kalyoncu U (2010) Factors affecting the sexual satisfaction of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Sex Disabil 28:223–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Baraliakos X, Listing J, von der Recke A, Braun J (2011) The natural course of radiographic progression in ankylosing spondylitis: differences between genders and appearance of characteristic radiographic features. Curr Rheumatol Rep 13:383–387

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Healey EL, Haywood KL, Jordan KP, Garratt AM, Ryan S, Packham JC (2009) Ankylosing spondylitis and its impact on sexual relationships. Rheumatology (Oxford) 48:1378–1381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Basson R (2005) Women’s sexual dysfunction: revised and expanded definitions. CMAJ 172:1327–1333

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Berman JR (2005) Physiology of female sexual function and dysfunction. Int J Impot Res 17:44–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Davis SR, Jane F (2011) Sex and perimenopause. Aust Fam Physician 40:274–278

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Bezmialem Vakif University, TOKI Orkide evleri 2. kisim CK 10 Kat 9 Daire 38, Atakent Kucukcekmece, Istanbul, Turkey

    Saliha Eroglu Demir & Aylin Rezvani

  2. Ministry of Health, Gebze Fatih State Hospital, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic, Izmit, Turkey

    Seniz Ok

Authors
  1. Saliha Eroglu Demir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Aylin Rezvani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Seniz Ok
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Saliha Eroglu Demir.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Demir, S.E., Rezvani, A. & Ok, S. Assessment of sexual functions in female patients with ankylosing spondylitis compared with healthy controls. Rheumatol Int 33, 57–63 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-011-2340-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-011-2340-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation