Evaluation of sexual functions in female rosacea patients: a prospective, case-control study

Patients with rosacea have a higher incidence of depression, embarrassment, social phobia, stress, subjective disease perception and decreased quality of life. Sexual dysfunction is one of the main factors contributing to impaired life quality. The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of sexual dysfunction in women with rosacea. A prospective case-control study was planned to investigate female sexual dysfunction in patients utilizing the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). A total of 85 patients with rosacea and 80 healthy control subjects were included in the study. The total FSFI scores were significantly lower in the rosacea group than in the control group (26.6 vs. 27.6, p < 0.001, respectively). According to the total FSFI scores, 49.4% of the rosacea patients had sexual dysfunction compared with 30.0% of the healthy controls (p = 0.011). The total FSFI scores were negatively correlated with the values of the Dermatologic Life Quality Index (DLQI) (r: -0.251, p = 0.001), disease duration (r: -0.416, p < 0.001), age (r: -0.632, p < 0.001) and body mass index (r: -0.329, p < 0.001). Sexual dysfunction in female rosacea patients was demonstrated in this study. We believe that the recognition of sexual dysfunction in women with rosacea will provide improvements in the life quality of such patients.