Evaluation of sexual function in Brazilian women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis and localized provoked vulvodynia.
BACKGROUND
Recurrent vulvovaginitis is an important trigger for inflammatory processes that in many cases may result in vulvovaginal pain. Vulvodynia, a vulvar disorder, can also cause a lot of pain in the female genitals. The sexual function in women with vulvodynia or recurrent vulvovaginitis will possibly be negatively affected and therefore should be evaluated.


OBJECTIVE
To assess sexual function in women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) and localized provoked vulvodynia (LPV) in comparison with women without lower genital tract dysfunction.


METHODS
A 1-year cross-sectional study evaluated sexual function in 58 women (11 with RVVC, 18 with LPV, and 29 controls) seen at a university outpatient clinic. Sexual function was assessed by taking into account the results obtained from the application of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, chi-square, and Fisher's tests were used for statistical analysis.


METHODS
FSFI, a validated questionnaire in Portuguese.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in the three groups with respect to age, marital status, schooling, race, body mass index, contraceptive method, and parity. The FSFI questionnaire total score found was 25.51 (±5.12), 21.17 (±5.15), and 29.56 (±3.87) for the RVVC, LPV, and control groups, respectively. The scores were significantly statistically lower in the study groups compared with the control group (P<0.05). Women with RVVC and LPV also had lower total scores compared with 26.55 values, considered a cutoff score for sexual dysfunction in literature. The LPV group showed a significant difference and scored worse in the domains of arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain but not in the domain of sexual desire. The same occurred with the RVVC group but only for the domains of orgasm and satisfaction.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with RVVC and LPV had significantly more symptoms of sexual dysfunction than women without lower genital tract diseases.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UNICAMP Medical School, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. giraldo@unicamp.br
Paulo César
PC
Giraldo
Nádia Cristina
NC
Polpeta
Cássia Raquel Teatin
CR
Juliato
Laura Pagotto
LP
Yoshida
Rose Luce Gomes
RL
do Amaral
José
J
Eleutério Junior
D000328:Adult; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000150:complications*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D056650:Vulvodynia / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult