title: Sexual dysfunction in married women with Systemic Sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexuality is an often neglected area in patients with rheumatic disease. The aim of this study is to assess sexual functioning and quality of life in a group of married women with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a horizontal study for descriptive and analytical purposes. Married women with SSc were interviewed about their sexual functioning and their quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of ten patients who met the criteria have accepted to participate to the study. Their mean age was 52, 4± 8,2 years. Eight women thought that the disease had affected their sexual activity. All patients reported a decrease in the frequency of intercourse since the onset of their disease. Eight of the sample reported a diminished desire for a sexual relationship. The reasons were fatigue, altered body image and pain. The assessment of sexual functioning using the Female sexual function index (FSFI) showed a mean FSFI score at 14,2±7,8 with nine women scoring in the range associated with sexual dysfunction (SD) (<26). All the subscales were affected. Our patients reported a mean total score on WHOQOL-brief (World Health Quality of Life-Brief Version) of 60 out of 120 indicating a moderate altered quality of life. Depression has been identified as determinants of impaired sexual function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of SD in women with SSc is high when a specific questionnaire is used to assess it. These results indicate that in daily practice, inquiring about sexuality and screening for depressive symptoms is indicated for every patient with SSc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal medicine, Hedi Chaker Hospital 3029, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Faten
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Frikha
authors.affiliation: Department of psychiatry A, Hedi Chaker Hospital 3029, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Jawaher
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Masmoudi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal medicine, Hedi Chaker Hospital 3029, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Noura
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal medicine, Hedi Chaker Hospital 3029, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Zouhir
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bahloul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Systemic sclerosis; quality of life; sexual function