title: [Sexual function in married women with rheumatoid arthritis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to assess sexual functioning in a group of married women with rheumatoid arthritis using a self-questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a horizontal study for descriptive and analytical purposes. (between October and November 2010). Married women with a confirmed diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with no co morbidities that may affect sexual activity, were interviewed about their sexual functioning and their quality of life by a self report questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 10 patients who met the criteria have accepted to participate to the study. Their mean age was 42.5±5.8 years (32-50 years), their mean age at the marriage was 24.8±8.9 years (16-48 years). Six women thought that the disease had affected their sexual relationship and their sexual activity. Six patients reported a decrease in the frequency of intercourse since the onset of their disease. The reported mean age at the beginning of sexual (SD) dysfunction was 37.1±5.8 years (30-48 years). Six of the sample reported a diminished desire for a sexual relationship since the disease onset. The reasons were pain, physical disability and fatigue. The assessment of sexual functioning using the Female sexual function index (FSFI) showed a mean FSFI score at 19.2±9.8 (2-30) with seven women scoring in the range associated with clinical SD (<26). All the subscales were affected: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm and satisfaction. Our patients reported a mean total score on World Health Quality of Life-Brief Version (WHOQOL-brief) of 60 out of 120 indicating a moderate altered quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women with RA is high when a specific questionnaire is used to assess it. The reasons for disturbed sexual functioning are multifactorial: impaired function, chronic pain and important fatigue.
authors.affiliation: CHU Hédi-Chaker, service de médecine interne, 3029 Sfax, Tunisie. fetenfrikha@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Faten
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Frikha
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maazoun
authors.forename: Raida
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ben Salah
authors.forename: Mouna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Snoussi
authors.forename: Jawaher
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Masmoudi
authors.forename: Mahamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nabil Mhiri
authors.forename: Zouhir
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bahloul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008393:Marriage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D019529:Sexuality / Q000502:physiology*; D018454:Spouses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires