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The negative effect of urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome on female sexual function: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

To explore the effect of urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome (UCPPS) on female sexual function.

Methods

Database searches were conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for published literature using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) or reporting the prevalence of dyspareunia. Data extraction and quality evaluation were performed on the literature that met the inclusion criteria, and a meta-analysis was performed using STATA 12.0 and RevMan5.3 software to calculate the mean differences (MD) and odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

A total of nine case-control studies enrolling 4965 subjects were investigated. The present meta-analysis results demonstrated a strong correlation between UCPPS and dyspareunia (OR = 11.27, 95% CI: 5.15–24.67, P < 0.00001). The UCPPS group had significantly lower scores in each domain of the FSFI compared with the healthy control group: total score (MD = −11.35, 95% CI: −14.54– − 8.16, P < 0.00001); desire (MD = −1.04, 95% CI: −1.20– − 0.88, P < 0.00001); arousal (MD = −1.78, 95% CI: −2.36– − 1.20, P < 0.00001); lubrication (MD = −2.11, 95% CI: −2.49– − 1.73, P < 0.00001); orgasm (MD = −1.50, 95% CI: −1.72– − 1.28, P < 0.00001); satisfaction (MD = −1.54, 95% CI: −1.97– − 1.12, P < 0.00001); pain (MD = −2.89, 95% CI: −3.63– − 2.14, P < 0.00001).

Conclusions

UCPPS had a significantly negative effect on female sexual function, particularly in the lubrication, pain, and total score domains. In addition, UCPPS patients had a significantly higher risk of dyspareunia. Psychosocial variables may be a potential pathogenesis of female sexual dysfunction (FSD). Future well-designed research is called for to develop a comprehensive estimate of the association between UCPPS and FSD.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Prof. Zhihai Qin for his linguistic assistance and suggestions to improve the manuscript. We thank Prof. Hairong Huang for her assistance with the statistical aspects.

Funding

This study was funded by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of Hainan Province (no. 20158296).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Affiliated Haikou Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, No.43, Renmin Avenue, Meilan District, Haikou City, 570208, Hainan Province, China

    Yupeng Guan, Gang Yu, Guoren Wang & Zhiming Bai

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  1. Yupeng Guan
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  2. Gang Yu
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Correspondence to Zhiming Bai.

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Guan, Y., Yu, G., Wang, G. et al. The negative effect of urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome on female sexual function: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Urogynecol J 30, 1807–1816 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-019-03984-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-019-03984-z

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