"I can't get no satisfaction": deep dyspareunia and sexual functioning in women with rectovaginal endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of rectovaginal endometriosis on pain at intercourse and sexual functioning.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
Academic department.


METHODS
Case subjects were women with rectovaginal endometriosis (n = 100), and control subjects were women with a surgical diagnosis of peritoneal and/or ovarian endometriosis (n = 100) or without endometriosis (n = 100).


METHODS
Questionnaires (visual analogue scale [VAS] and revised Sabbatsberg Sexual Self-Rating Scale [SRS]).


METHODS
Frequency and severity of deep dyspareunia and sexual functioning.


RESULTS
Deep dyspareunia was reported by 67/100 (67%) women in the rectovaginal endometriosis group, 52/99 (53%) in the peritoneal and/or ovarian endometriosis group, and 24/93 (26%) in the nonendometriosis group. Mean ± SD dyspareunia VAS scores were, respectively, 44 ± 34, 30 ± 32, and 13 ± 26. Women in both endometriosis groups performed significantly worse than those in the nonendometriosis group in several SRS subdomains. No significant difference in overall SRS score was detected between women in the two endometriosis groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with endometriosis experienced more frequent and severe deep dyspareunia and worse sexual functioning compared with women without endometriosis, whereas differences between women with diverse endometriosis forms were marginal.
Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologica, Istituto Luigi Mangiagalli, Università Statale di Milano, Milan, Italy. paolo.vercellini@unimi.it
Paolo
P
Vercellini
Edgardo
E
Somigliana
Laura
L
Buggio
Giussy
G
Barbara
Maria Pina
MP
Frattaruolo
Luigi
L
Fedele
D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012006:Rectovaginal Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires