Eating disorders and sexuality: A quantitative study in a French medically assisted procreation course

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Sexual Health

Background:

• Eating disorders (ED) are prevalent among women seeking medically assisted procreation (MAP).
• Existing literature suggests ED is linked to sexual dysfunction and anxiety in MAP patients.
• This study investigates the impact of ED on the sexuality of women with infertility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the sexual functioning of women with current or past eating disorders to those without.
• To assess the prevalence of eating disorders in a population of women undergoing fertility treatments.
• To identify specific sexual dysfunctions associated with eating disorders in this cohort.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative study involving 61 women consulting a MAP department for infertility.
• Participants completed validated questionnaires including the EDE-Q, BISF-W, and HADS.
• Data analysis compared sexual functioning between women with and without a history of ED.

Main Results:

• A 54% prevalence of current or past eating disorders was observed.
• Women with ED reported significantly more physical sexual dysfunctions (e.g., anorgasmia, vaginismus) compared to the non-ED group (p=.01), even after adjusting for depression.
• Despite similar rates of intercourse, 10% of the total study population reported no intravaginal intercourse in the past month.

Conclusions:

• Women with fertility disorders and a history of eating disorders exhibit higher rates of sexual dysfunction.
• Findings underscore the importance of addressing ED in the context of infertility treatment.
• Future research should explore tailored psychological and sexological interventions for this patient group.