Sexual dysfunction in migraine-affected women: A prospective cross-sectional controlled study

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a common health problem that is inadequately investigated in Arabic countries, especially Saudi Arabia.

To assess the prevalence and trace predictors of FSD in Saudi women who suffered from migraine headaches comparable to healthy women.

A prospective cross-sectional, controlled study involved 400 Saudi women complaining of migraine (Case Group) and another 400 healthy-looking Saudi women (Control Group) during three months; from January 1^st, to March 31st 2023, in Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia. Data was collected by using a pre-structured Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire, Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS), Migraine Screen Questionnaire (MS-Q), with an evaluation of the severity of pain by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and its impact on daily activity by using both; Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) and Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) Questionnaire.

A total of 800 Saudi women were recruited. Their ages ranged from 18 to 45 years old. Women with abnormally low FSFI scores were 375 (93.75 %) out of 400 with migraine and 85 (21.25 %) out of 400 without migraine. The lowest FSFI scores were mainly for desire (2.75 ± 1.05) and arousal domains (3.0 ± 1.12) followed by sexual satisfaction (3.25 ± 1.30) and orgasmic domains (3.5 ± 1.15). The foremost predictive factor behind low FSFI scores and associated FSD in our study was migraine (P < 0.00001). Additional predictors of statistical significance were low educational level (P < 0.01), urban residency (P < 0.02), high parity (P < 0.02), chronic illness such as diabetes (P < 0.01), and bad habits such as smoking (P < 0.03).

A significant correlation exists between migraine and female sexual dysfunction (FSD). Desire and arousal dysfunctions were the most significantly affected domains followed by satisfaction and orgasmic problems.