[Sexual function in women undergoing assisted reproduction.]

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Sexual Health
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Female sexual function can be impacted by infertility and assisted reproductive techniques.
• Understanding sexual health in women undergoing fertility treatments is crucial for holistic care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare sexual function in infertile women undergoing assisted reproduction techniques (ART) versus fertile women.
• To identify any significant differences in sexual function domains between these groups.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 278 women (168 infertile, 110 fertile) at a Brazilian university hospital.
• Utilized the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire to assess sexual function.
• Calculated odds ratios to determine the likelihood of sexual dysfunction in infertile women.

Main Results:

• Overall, 33.09% of women reported sexual dysfunction, with no significant difference in FSFI scores between infertile and fertile groups (p=0.29).
• Prevalence of sexual dysfunction was 36.30% in infertile women and 28.18% in fertile women, but not statistically different (p=0.36).
• Infertile women showed significant differences in desire and arousal domains (p=0.01), despite similar overall odds of sexual dysfunction (OR=1.4, p=0.2).

Conclusions:

• No overall difference in sexual function was found between infertile women undergoing ART and fertile women.
• Infertile women undergoing ART require targeted professional support for sexual health, particularly concerning desire and arousal.
• Further research may explore specific interventions for improving sexual well-being in this population.