title: Do women with endometriosis have to worry about sex?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sexual function is negatively influenced by endometriosis and women with endometriosis show less sexual and partnership satisfaction compared to patients with other gynaecological disorders. This study aims to compare sexual function between patients with deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) and healthy women using Sexual Health Outcomes in Women Questionnaire (SHOW-Q).
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study including 182 patients with histological diagnosis of DIE and 182 healthy women, who referred to our tertiary care university hospital from 2010 to 2012. SHOW-Q was used to collect data concerning satisfaction, orgasm, desire and pelvic problem interference with sex. The un-paired t-test was performed to compare the means of a continuous variable between groups when the data were normally distributed; otherwise the Mann-Whitney test was used to check t-test results. Pearson's χ(2) test and Z-test for proportions - independent groups were performed to investigate the difference among grouping variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As described in a previous study, the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women with endometriosis is around 61% and in women with other gynaecological disorders is 35%. Assuming 5% significance and 95% power, 106 women would be required for the study. Every area of sexual function investigated through the SHOW-Q questionnaire (satisfaction, desire, orgasm and pelvic problem interference) was significantly impaired compared to healthy women. Among patients with DIE, 58% (105/182) reported that pelvic pain severely affected sexual function, while only 1% (2/182) of healthy women (p<0.0001). Moreover, sexual desire was absent or less than one or two times per month in 45% (82/182) of women with DIE compared to 14% (26/182) of healthy women (p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DIE severely affects sexual function. Endometriosis is a global disease, which affects patients physically, psychologically and sexually. The potential sexual consequences of this disease need to be considered.
authors: Minimally Invasive Gynaecological Surgery Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti, Bologna 13 40138, Italy. Electronic address: nadine.didonato@gmail.com.
authors: Nadine
authors: N
authors: Di Donato
authors: Minimally Invasive Gynaecological Surgery Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti, Bologna 13 40138, Italy.
authors: Giulia
authors: G
authors: Montanari
authors: Minimally Invasive Gynaecological Surgery Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti, Bologna 13 40138, Italy.
authors: Arianna
authors: A
authors: Benfenati
authors: Minimally Invasive Gynaecological Surgery Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti, Bologna 13 40138, Italy.
authors: Giorgia
authors: G
authors: Monti
authors: Minimally Invasive Gynaecological Surgery Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti, Bologna 13 40138, Italy.
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Bertoldo
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, S. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Mauloni
authors: Minimally Invasive Gynaecological Surgery Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti, Bologna 13 40138, Italy.
authors: Renato
authors: R
authors: Seracchioli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003075:Coitus; D015897:Comorbidity; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009948:Orgasm; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014930:Women
keywords: Dyspareunia; Endometriosis; SHOW-Q score; Sexual function; Sexuality