The Impact of Atopic Dermatitis on Sexual Function and Reproductive Desires in Women.

Atopic dermatitis is a prevalent skin condition that affects up to 17% of adult population. It can lead to itching, pain, and other symptoms such as sleep disturbance, anxiety, and depression. Due to its high prevalence and limiting symptoms, atopic dermatitis often has a great impact on patients' quality of life but there is scarce information regarding how atopic dermatitis affects women's sexual health and reproductive desires. The purpose of this article was to assess the impact of atopic dermatitis on sexual function and reproductive wishes in women. A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March 2022. A total of 102 women with atopic dermatitis were recruited through online questionnaires sent through the Spanish Atopic Dermatitis Association; 68.6% of the patients acknowledged impairment in sexual function, especially those with more severe disease and those with genital and gluteal involvement. In addition, 51% of the women considered that atopic dermatitis may have an influence on their gestational desire, particularly those with gluteal involvement. In conclusion, atopic dermatitis has a great impact on sexual function and reproductive desires in women.

Profiles of University Students in Terms of Sexual Dysfunction: The Role of Anxiety, Depression, Eating Attitudes, and Mindfulness.

Objective: Sexual dysfunction (SD) can interfere with sexual desire and satisfaction and is associated with an impairment in one's emotional, mental, physical, and social function. Despite its importance, SD remains understudied in Lebanon, possibly due to its sensitive nature. Therefore, this research aimed to address this gap by examining the relationship between SD and certain psychological and behavioral factors. The objective was to investigate the relationship between SD and eating attitudes, depression, anxiety, and mindfulness among university students in Lebanon using a cluster analysis approach.Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out between July and September 2021. Using the snowball technique, a sample of 363 Lebanese university students was recruited. SD was measured using the Sexual Dysfunction Questionnaire, with higher scores indicating higher sexual arousal/desire. Eating attitudes, anxiety, depression, and mindfulness were measured using the Eating Attitude Test, Lebanese Anxiety Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire, and Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory, respectively.Results: Participants were divided into 3 clusters: cluster 1 "moderate well being" (n = 109, 30.0%) was characterized by moderate eating attitudes, anxiety, depression, and mindfulness; cluster 2 "positive well-being" (n = 186, 51.2%) was characterized by having the lowest mean eating attitude, anxiety, and depression scores, while having the highest mean mindfulness score; and cluster 3 "negative well-being" (n = 68, 18.7%) was characterized by the highest mean eating attitude, anxiety, and depression scores, while having the lowest mean mindfulness score. Females compared to males (ß = -0.87) and belonging to cluster 2 (ß = -1.32) or cluster 3 (ß = -1.32) were significantly associated with less sexual arousal.Conclusion: The results align with previous findings suggesting that mindfulness has a role in SD. The current study highlights the importance of taking into consideration factors that interplay with SD. Mental health providers should consider integrating aspects of mindfulness into their practice when working with patients with SD. Additionally, addressing the taboo surrounding sexual health will be crucial to destigmatize this topic. The findings emphasize the need for accessible campaigns by sexual health organizations to raise awareness.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord 2024;26(3):23m03682. Author affiliations are listed at the end of this article.

Mindfulness and Management of Low Desire and Vulvovaginal Pain.

Mindfulness is defined as present-moment, nonjudgmental awareness. By reducing self-criticism, and depression, and increasing self-compassion, attention, and interoceptive awareness, mindfulness has been found across a variety of systematic reviews and meta-analyses to significantly improve sexual desire, sexual pain, and sex-related distress. It helps individuals connect with their bodies, fostering a deeper understanding of sensations and desires while reducing the focus on negative, judgmental, and catastrophic sex-related and pain-related thoughts. By teaching individuals to focus on bare sensations, mindfulness has also been found to significantly reduce vulvovaginal pain intensity with improvements retained a year later.

Effect of counseling model on diabetic women regarding sexual dysfunction: a quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Complications of diabetes in women have adverse effects on their self-image, quality of life, health, and other social relationships, thereby leading to sexual dysfunction. maternity nurse care can play a critical role in assessing the knowledge about needs for sexual health. AIM: The present study aims to evaluate the effect of the counseling model on female patients with diabetes regarding sexual dysfunction. METHOD: A quasi-experimental research design was used to conduct the study at the diabetic and obstetric outpatient clinic in 2 hospitals (Al Salam Port Said General Hospital, Elzohor General Hospital), and in five centers in Port Said City (El-Kuwait Center, Othman Ibnafan Center, El-arab 1 center, El-manakh center, El-arab2 center). A purposive sample of 178 female diabetic patients was included in the study. Two tools were used for collecting data consisted of; (1 interview questionnaire sheet) including personal characteristics, medical history, and present sexual problem of the studied female patients, (and 2 female sexual function index (FSFI). RESULTS: the current study revealed that there was a high statistical difference between female sexual function in post with mean ± SD (23.3 ± 4.1) compared to pre-educational intervention with mean ± SD (19.5 ± 3.7), while there was a high statistically significant difference among pre- & post-program application regarding female sexual function index (p > 0.001). CONCLUSION: the counseling model had a positive effect in improving the sexual function among female patients with diabetes. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER (TRN): The study protocol was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Nursing, Port Said University (code number: NUR 12/9/2021-6).

Evidence for the Impact of Stress and Trauma on Sexual Function in Women: Review and Clinical Recommendations.

Stressors occur in a spectrum, ranging from daily hassles to life-threatening experiences, and can significantly impact sexual functioning. Thus, this review summarizes the intricate relationship between trauma spectrum experiences and women's sexual functioning. Biological mechanisms are described to elucidate the physiologic complexity that manifests because of trauma-related experiences. Additionally, both psychological and social implications are discussed. Treatment recommendations for practitioners working with women are discussed, underscoring the importance of adopting a trauma-informed care model.

Sexual Desire and Pharmacologic Management.

Female sexual desire is a complex interplay of neurotransmitters and hormones. Diagnosis is based on clinical features and sexual distress. Treatments that affect neurotransmitters and hormones that may be out of balance can help improve sexual desire in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder.

Cancer and Female Sexual Function.

Sexual health is a concern that often goes unaddressed among female cancer survivors. Management of these issues depends upon the type of malignancy, stage and other tumor characteristics, treatment, and the history, concerns, and goals of the individual patient.

Sexuality and Infertility.

Infertility diagnoses and treatment can lead to psychological distress and relationship strain. Infertility is commonly associated with disruptions in sexual function and satisfaction among women, in part due to overlapping etiologic factors (eg, comorbid medical conditions). Women and couples with infertility should be screened for sexual problems and provided education on the relationship between infertility and sexuality. Sexual dysfunction in the context of infertility is often best addressed using an interdisciplinary approach. This article provides a summary on the relationship between sexuality and infertility and recommendations for the assessment and management of sexual dysfunction in women with infertility.

Communicating male sexual dysfunction: The medicalization and psychologization of sexual experiences in Chinese online medical consultations.

Previous research shows that men who experience erectile or sexual dysfunction may feel uncomfortable discussing their sexual experiences in face-to-face clinical encounters. Part of the reason is the stigma and embarrassment associated with discussing private sexual matters. This study examines how e-patients, or more precisely advice-seekers, and doctors communicate about sexual dysfunction in online medical consultations (OMCs). We conducted a Theme-Oriented Discourse Analysis of relevant OMCs on CH Doctor, a Chinese medical consultation website, to understand how individuals with perceived sexual dysfunction articulate their conditions and how doctors on the platform respond and provide recommendations to these individuals. Our analysis reveals that OMCs afford advice-seekers a place to openly discuss their sexual health issues and gain empowerment from doctors who assist in mitigating the associated social stigma. Upon detailed discourse analysis, however, we find that individuals seeking advice often interpret their sexual experiences as symptoms of illness that requires medical intervention. In response, doctors tend to validate these advice-seekers' preliminary self-diagnoses by treating their conditions as medical issues and characterizing them as psychosocial problems caused by stress and anxiety. Aligning with a critical sociological perspective that views sexual dysfunction as socially constructed problems referenced against dominant norms of sexual functioning, we argue that the medicalization and psychologization of certain sexual behaviors by doctors and advice-seekers discursively reinforce and legitimize essentialist views of hetero-coital sexual interaction. Such views reify penile-vaginal intercourse and ejaculation as the only standard, successful, and desirable form of sexual activity. This may further induce fear and anxiety among adult men whose sexual behaviors do not realistically align with these norms.

Patient satisfaction and sexual issues in vulvar lichen sclerosus treatment: a monocentric certified dysplasia unit survey analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) is an underestimated chronic disease. It can cause significant symptom burden and sexual dysfunction. This study aimed to evaluate patient satisfaction and current challenges in the management of VLS in a certified dysplasia unit, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This survey analyzed patients who had been diagnosed with VLS and treated at our DKG-certified dysplasia unit. The study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the University of Aachen. The questionnaire contained 43 questions on general treatment, diagnostic delays, disease education, psychologic and sexual issues, and specific questions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaires were distributed between January 2021 and September 2023. RESULTS: This study included 103 patients diagnosed with VLS, who were treated at our certified dysplasia unit. Overall, 48% of the patients were satisfied with the success of the therapy. Most participants reported psychologic problems (36.8%), fear of cancer (53.3%), or sexual restrictions (53.3%). Among the patients, 38% were bothered by the regular application of topical cortisone. However, 72% were willing to undergo treatment for more than 24 months. The COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020 had a significant negative impact on general VLS care from the patient's perspective (3.83/5 before vs. 3.67/5 after; p = 0.046). There was a general request for booklets to inform and educate the patients about their disease. Furthermore, the respondents demanded a telephone hotline to answer the questions and wished for follow-up visits via e-mail to cope better with their current situation. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the need for more effective treatments for VLS and an increased awareness of psychologic and sexual distress. To ensure patient well-being and satisfaction, it is imperative to offer individualized care with adequate disease education in a team of specialists from various disciplines.

Hypersexuality in neurological disorders: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Hypersexuality (HS) accompanying neurological conditions remains poorly characterized despite profound psychosocial impacts. Objective We aimed to systematically review the literature on HS in patients with neurological disorders. Study selection and analysis We conducted a systematic review to identify studies that reported HS in neurological disorders. HS was defined as a condition characterized by excessive and persistent preoccupation with sexual thoughts, urges, and behaviors that cause significant distress or impairment in personal, social, or occupational functioning. Data on demographics, assessment techniques, associated elements, phenotypic manifestations, and management strategies were also extracted. Findings The final analysis included 79 studies on HS, encompassing 32 662 patients across 81 cohorts with neurological disorders. Parkinson's disease was the most frequently studied condition (55.6%), followed by various types of dementia (12.7%). Questionnaires were the most common assessment approach for evaluating HS, although the techniques varied substantially. Alterations in the dopaminergic pathways have emerged as contributing mechanisms based on the effects of medication cessation. However, standardized treatment protocols still need to be improved, with significant heterogeneity in documented approaches. Critical deficiencies include risks of selection bias in participant sampling, uncontrolled residual confounding factors, and lack of blinded evaluations of reported outcomes. Conclusions and clinical implications Despite growth in the last decade, research on HS remains limited across neurological conditions, with lingering quality and methodological standardization deficits. Key priorities include advancing assessment tools, elucidating the underlying neurobiology, and formulating management guidelines. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42017036478.

Turkish women's perception of low sexual desire, its causes and consequences: an online qualitative survey.

Background The nature of sexual desire is complex, and little phenomenological consensus exists about its meaning. Low sexual desire (LSD) is a commonly reported sexual difficulty among women, but it is less frequently associated with sexual distress. The aim of this qualitative study is to explore women's understanding of sexual desire, and their perceptions of factors that may contribute to LSD, its effects and their methods of seeking help. Methods The research employed a questionnaire with 12 open-ended questions, developed by the researchers based on sexual script theory. Data were collected from 165 heterosexual Turkish women who reported LSD, recruited through social media platforms between August and October 2021. The data were analysed using a contextual form of thematic analysis to identify and explore patterns. Results The ages of the participants ranged from 20 to 63years. The majority of participants held a Bachelor's degree (81.2%) and in a relationship (78.8%). Three main themes emerged from the study: (1) gendered messages concerning sex, (2) multi-level sexual desire, and (3) minimisation. The research revealed that women's sexual desire is often ignored and repressed, and has negative consequences if not expressed in socially acceptable contexts. The causes of LSD in women go beyond personal factors, and include relational and social influences. Women experiencing LSD report distressing effects on their relationships and general wellbeing, yet they tend not to seek help. Conclusions Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors impacting women's sexual desire and the barriers to seeking help.

Female Sexual Health: Screening and Evaluation.

Female sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent, affecting 30% to 50% of cisgender women globally. Low sexual desire, sexual arousal disorder, and orgasm disorder affect 10% to 20%, 6% to 20%, and 4% to 14% of women, respectively. Dyspareunia or pain with intercourse affects 8% to 22% of women. Universal screening is recommended; and a thorough medical history and physical examination are the foundations of evaluation and assessment. Laboratory tests and imaging are sometimes warranted, but referral to a sexual medicine expert is suggested if the practitioner is unfamiliar or uncomfortable with treatment.

Impact of Chronic Medical Disease on Sexual Function and Other Conditions.

Chronic diseases are prevalent and impact sexual health and function. Screening for and managing sexual dysfunction in women with chronic diseases is important to optimize well-being and quality of life. Clinicians should consider the biopsychosocial impact of chronic diseases on sexual health, screen for direct and indirect factors, and identify medications that may cause dysfunction. The authors recommend a multidisciplinary approach to treat sexual dysfunction in women with chronic diseases, including sexual medicine specialists, sex therapists, and pelvic floor physical therapists when indicated. This review provides a practical approach to assessing and managing sexual dysfunction in women with chronic diseases.

Sexual Dysfunction After Menopause: Guidelines for Assessment and Management.

Female sexual dysfunction commonly occurs during the menopause transition and post-menopause due to hormonal, physiologic, and psychosocial factors. Sexuality is important to aging women; however, many are reluctant to seek treatment for their sexual concerns. Clinicians should be adept at managing and treating sexual dysfunction in this population. A multi-dimensional treatment approach that addresses modifiable mental, physical, and psychosocial factors is warranted to improve sexual function and quality of life.