Sexual Health in Rheumatology
November 2023
in “
Lara D. Veeken
”
TLDR Sexual dysfunction is common in autoimmune rheumatic diseases but often overlooked and needs better attention in care.
Sexual dysfunction (SD) is prevalent among patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRD), affecting up to 63% of females with AIRD, yet it remains under-recognized and under-treated in rheumatology. Factors contributing to SD include pain, disability, depression, and medication side effects. Despite its impact on quality of life, discussions about sexual health are rare in clinical settings due to barriers like time constraints and clinician discomfort. The article emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary approach, including specific training for physicians, to address SD effectively. It suggests using the PLISSIT model for patient discussions and highlights the importance of developing disease-specific questionnaires and guidelines. The article calls for more research and awareness to integrate sexual health into routine rheumatology care.
