Endometriosis and Sexual Functioning: How Much Do Cognitive and Psycho-Emotional Factors Matter?

Valentina Rossi, Roberta Galizia, Francesca Tripodi, Chiara Simonelli, Maria Grazia Porpora and Filippo Maria Nimbi
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Valentina Rossi: Institute of Clinical Sexology, 00198 Rome, Italy
Roberta Galizia: Department of Dynamic, Clinical and Health Psychology, “Sapienza” University, 00185 Rome, Italy
Francesca Tripodi: Institute of Clinical Sexology, 00198 Rome, Italy
Chiara Simonelli: Department of Dynamic, Clinical and Health Psychology, “Sapienza” University, 00185 Rome, Italy
Maria Grazia Porpora: Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urology, “Sapienza” University, 00161 Rome, Italy
Filippo Maria Nimbi: Department of Dynamic, Clinical and Health Psychology, “Sapienza” University, 00185 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: Women with endometriosis often suffer from genito-pelvic pain. The objective of the present study was to analyze the relationship between cognitive and psycho-emotional factors and sexual functioning of women with endometriosis, comparing women with and without endometriosis. A total of 87 women with endometriosis (EG) and 100 women without endometriosis (CG) completed a socio-demographic questionnaire; the short-form of McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ); the Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI); the Sexual Distress Scale (SDS); the Symptoms Checklist (SCL-90-R); the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20); the Positive and Negative Affects Scale (PANAS); the Sexual Dysfunctional Belief Questionnaire (SDBQ); the Sexual Modes Questionnaire (SMQ); and the Questionnaire of Cognitive Schema Activation in Sexual Context (QCSASC). EG obtained worse scores than CG in SF-MPQ, Pain subscale of FSFI, and SDS. EG reached higher scores than CG on almost all scales of SCL-90-R and lower scores in the “Identifying Feelings” scale of TAS-20. Furthermore, EG reported more negative emotions toward sexuality than CG (PANAS) higher scores on the “Affection Primacy” scale of SDBQ and the “Helpless” sexual cognitive schema of QCSASC than CG. No significant differences were found in SMQ. Sexual health professionals should address psychological, emotional, and cognitive factors since they seem involved in patients’ sexual experiences.

Keywords: endometriosis; dyspareunia; sexual dysfunctions; chronic pelvic pain; genital pain; emotions; cognitions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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