Sexual dysfunction in women with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome: A case-control study

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Gynecology
• Sexual Medicine

Background:

• Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a chronic condition causing urinary frequency, urgency, and pelvic pain.
• IC/BPS significantly impacts patients' sexual well-being.
• Data on sexual dysfunction in Indian women with IC/BPS is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the prevalence and severity of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in women with IC/BPS versus controls.
• To assess the impact of IC/BPS on various domains of sexual function using validated questionnaires.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 32 women with IC/BPS and 32 asymptomatic controls.
• Utilized the Pelvic Pain and Urgency/Frequency (PUF) Questionnaire to assess IC/BPS symptoms.
• Employed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) to evaluate sexual function.

Main Results:

• Women with IC/BPS reported significantly higher PUF scores (7.843 vs. 3.656).
• The IC/BPS group exhibited significantly lower total adjusted FSFI scores (18.678 vs. 28.05; P < 0.05) across all sexual function domains.
• A high prevalence of FSD was observed in the IC/BPS group (90.62%) compared to controls (37.5%).
• Pain was the most frequent complaint in the IC/BPS group (65.25%).

Conclusions:

• Women diagnosed with IC/BPS experience considerably more pain and sexual dysfunction than their healthy counterparts.
• The findings underscore the significant burden of FSD associated with IC/BPS in the studied Indian cohort.