Endometriosis decreases female sexual function and increases pain severity: a meta-analysis

This study aimed to explore the effects of endometriosis on female sexual function.

PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched to analyze the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) or visual analog scale (VAS) scores between women with and without endometriosis. Data from publications were generated, and the sexual function of women with and without endometriosis was systematically evaluated.

A total of six publications were included in the study. The FSFI total score and its six domains were significantly lower in women with endometriosis: FSFI total score (P < 0.001), desire (P = 0.045), arousal (P = 0.039), pain domains (P < 0.001), lubrication (P < 0.001), orgasm (P = 0.001), and satisfaction (P < 0.001). Women with endometriosis exhibited more severity in terms of VAS scores for dyspareunia (P = 0.008) and chronic pelvic pain (P < 0.001); however, no significant severity for dysmenorrhea was observed (P = 0.118). Subgroup analysis showed that the region was not a source of heterogeneity. Publication bias was not noted in all included studies, and most results of the sensitivity analysis for the included indexes were stable, which implied that our results were relatively reliable.

The present meta-analysis provided evidence that endometriosis decreased female sexual function and increased the pain severity of dyspareunia and chronic pelvic pain.