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Sexuality of men with fibromyalgia: what are the factors that cause sexual dysfunction?

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Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to compare male patients with the fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) with healthy individuals in terms of the sexual function. For the purposes of this study, 37 sexually active male FMS patients and 30 healthy controls were enrolled. The demographic data of the patients were recorded, and the widespread pain observed in FMS was graded with the help of the visual analogue scale (VAS 0–100 mm). Sexual function was assessed according to the international index of erectile function (IIEF) scoring system. The disease-related quality of life was measured with the help of the Short Form-36 quality of life questionnaire (SF-36 QoL). Levels of anxiety and depression observed in the patients were graded through the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Patients with FMS had significantly lower scores in each of the five domains of the IIEF in comparison with the healthy control group (p < 0.001). Patients’ age and widespread pain were negatively correlated with the IIEF scores (p < 0.05). The SF-36 scores (physical functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, pain and general health perception) were observed to be positively correlated with the IIEF scores (p < 0.05). No significant relationship has been observed between the scores obtained from the domains of IIEF and the psychological status (p > 0.05). FMS leads to an impairment in the sexual function in male patients, which is especially strongly associated with the age, widespread pain and the quality of life.

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Acknowledgments

We thank to all patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University School of Medicine, Diyarbakir, Turkey

    İbrahim Batmaz, Mustafa Akif Sarıyıldız, Banu Dilek & Remzi Çevik

  2. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Turkey

    Ahmet İnanır

  3. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Erzurum Regional Training and Research Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey

    Zeynep Demircan

  4. Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey

    Namık Hatipoğlu & Murat Atar

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  1. İbrahim Batmaz
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  2. Mustafa Akif Sarıyıldız
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  3. Banu Dilek
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  4. Ahmet İnanır
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Correspondence to İbrahim Batmaz.

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Batmaz, İ., Sarıyıldız, M.A., Dilek, B. et al. Sexuality of men with fibromyalgia: what are the factors that cause sexual dysfunction?. Rheumatol Int 33, 1265–1270 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-012-2567-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-012-2567-1

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