Dyspareunia and sexual dysfunction in women seeking fertility treatment

Objective: To compare rates of dyspareunia in infertile women and healthy controls. Secondary aims are to determine whether demographic characteristics, rates of sexual dysfunction, and baseline depression status differ between the two groups. Design: A case-control study. Setting: University-based faculty fertility and OB/GYN generalist clinics. Patient(s): Seventy-five infertile female subjects presenting to the infertility clinic and 210 women presenting to the generalist clinic for their annual exam. Intervention(s): Completion of an anonymous survey including demographic information, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Patient-Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and original questions regarding sexual pain. Main Outcome Measure(s): Rate of dyspareunia and sexual dysfunction. Result(s): There were no significant differences in rates of dyspareunia (37.6% controls vs. 30.7% study) or the rate of sexual dysfunction (31.9% controls vs. 37.3% study). Infertile women had more frequent intercourse than controls and were more likely to be married. There were otherwise no differences in baseline rates of depression, demographic characteristics, or individual domain scores of the FSFI. Conclusion(s): Women seeking fertility treatment had similar rates of dyspareunia and sexual dysfunction compared with controls.