Enhancing Quality of Life and Sexual Functioning in Female Androgenetic Alopecia: Therapeutic Potential of Hair Follicle-Derived Stem Cells
Background: The study aimed to examine the impact of stem cell treatment on quality of life (QoL) and sexual functioning in women with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Methods: Twenty-three women underwent a single session of autologous cellular micrografts (ACMs). The World Health Organization Quality...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-03-01
|
| Series: | Healthcare |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/6/608 |
| _version_ | 1797240811906138112 |
|---|---|
| author | Katarzyna Krefft-Trzciniecka Hanna Cisoń Alicja Pakiet Danuta Nowicka Jacek C. Szepietowski |
| author_facet | Katarzyna Krefft-Trzciniecka Hanna Cisoń Alicja Pakiet Danuta Nowicka Jacek C. Szepietowski |
| author_sort | Katarzyna Krefft-Trzciniecka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The study aimed to examine the impact of stem cell treatment on quality of life (QoL) and sexual functioning in women with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Methods: Twenty-three women underwent a single session of autologous cellular micrografts (ACMs). The World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) were used before and after 6 months. Results: The AGA severity decreased by an average of 1 point on the Ludwig scale (<i>p</i> = 0.004) after treatment. FSFI scores indicated sexual dysfunction in over half of the women at baseline, but they improved significantly post-treatment for arousal [median (IQR): 4.8 (1.5) vs. 5.10 (0.9); <i>p</i> = 0.035] and satisfaction [4.4 (1.4) vs. 4.8 (1.8); <i>p</i> = 0.025]. QoL scores improved after treatment in psychological health (57.96 ± 19.0 vs. 69.35 ± 14.0; <i>p</i> = 0.031) and environment (72.96 ± 13.4 vs. 81.09 ± 12.6; <i>p</i> = 0.007), but not in physical health and social relationships. No associations were found between the WHOQOL-BREF or FSFI domains versus age and AGA severity. Conclusions: AGA reduces QoL and impacts sexual functioning in women with AGA. The high treatment burden arises from the chronic and progressive nature of AGA, coupled with limited treatment effectiveness. Effective treatments for AGA, like ACM, are urgently needed to enhance patient-reported outcomes along with clinical results. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:13:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-46a24d7a2be7426e84acc807f33dc163 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:13:22Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-46a24d7a2be7426e84acc807f33dc1632024-03-27T13:43:34ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322024-03-0112660810.3390/healthcare12060608Enhancing Quality of Life and Sexual Functioning in Female Androgenetic Alopecia: Therapeutic Potential of Hair Follicle-Derived Stem CellsKatarzyna Krefft-Trzciniecka0Hanna Cisoń1Alicja Pakiet2Danuta Nowicka3Jacek C. Szepietowski4Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wrocław Medical University, 50-368 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wrocław Medical University, 50-368 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wrocław Medical University, 50-368 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wrocław Medical University, 50-368 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wrocław Medical University, 50-368 Wrocław, PolandBackground: The study aimed to examine the impact of stem cell treatment on quality of life (QoL) and sexual functioning in women with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Methods: Twenty-three women underwent a single session of autologous cellular micrografts (ACMs). The World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) were used before and after 6 months. Results: The AGA severity decreased by an average of 1 point on the Ludwig scale (<i>p</i> = 0.004) after treatment. FSFI scores indicated sexual dysfunction in over half of the women at baseline, but they improved significantly post-treatment for arousal [median (IQR): 4.8 (1.5) vs. 5.10 (0.9); <i>p</i> = 0.035] and satisfaction [4.4 (1.4) vs. 4.8 (1.8); <i>p</i> = 0.025]. QoL scores improved after treatment in psychological health (57.96 ± 19.0 vs. 69.35 ± 14.0; <i>p</i> = 0.031) and environment (72.96 ± 13.4 vs. 81.09 ± 12.6; <i>p</i> = 0.007), but not in physical health and social relationships. No associations were found between the WHOQOL-BREF or FSFI domains versus age and AGA severity. Conclusions: AGA reduces QoL and impacts sexual functioning in women with AGA. The high treatment burden arises from the chronic and progressive nature of AGA, coupled with limited treatment effectiveness. Effective treatments for AGA, like ACM, are urgently needed to enhance patient-reported outcomes along with clinical results.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/6/608stem cell therapyregenerative therapyandrogenetic alopeciaquality of lifefemale sexual function |
| spellingShingle | Katarzyna Krefft-Trzciniecka Hanna Cisoń Alicja Pakiet Danuta Nowicka Jacek C. Szepietowski Enhancing Quality of Life and Sexual Functioning in Female Androgenetic Alopecia: Therapeutic Potential of Hair Follicle-Derived Stem Cells Healthcare stem cell therapy regenerative therapy androgenetic alopecia quality of life female sexual function |
| title | Enhancing Quality of Life and Sexual Functioning in Female Androgenetic Alopecia: Therapeutic Potential of Hair Follicle-Derived Stem Cells |
| title_full | Enhancing Quality of Life and Sexual Functioning in Female Androgenetic Alopecia: Therapeutic Potential of Hair Follicle-Derived Stem Cells |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing Quality of Life and Sexual Functioning in Female Androgenetic Alopecia: Therapeutic Potential of Hair Follicle-Derived Stem Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing Quality of Life and Sexual Functioning in Female Androgenetic Alopecia: Therapeutic Potential of Hair Follicle-Derived Stem Cells |
| title_short | Enhancing Quality of Life and Sexual Functioning in Female Androgenetic Alopecia: Therapeutic Potential of Hair Follicle-Derived Stem Cells |
| title_sort | enhancing quality of life and sexual functioning in female androgenetic alopecia therapeutic potential of hair follicle derived stem cells |
| topic | stem cell therapy regenerative therapy androgenetic alopecia quality of life female sexual function |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/6/608 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT katarzynakreffttrzciniecka enhancingqualityoflifeandsexualfunctioninginfemaleandrogeneticalopeciatherapeuticpotentialofhairfolliclederivedstemcells AT hannacison enhancingqualityoflifeandsexualfunctioninginfemaleandrogeneticalopeciatherapeuticpotentialofhairfolliclederivedstemcells AT alicjapakiet enhancingqualityoflifeandsexualfunctioninginfemaleandrogeneticalopeciatherapeuticpotentialofhairfolliclederivedstemcells AT danutanowicka enhancingqualityoflifeandsexualfunctioninginfemaleandrogeneticalopeciatherapeuticpotentialofhairfolliclederivedstemcells AT jacekcszepietowski enhancingqualityoflifeandsexualfunctioninginfemaleandrogeneticalopeciatherapeuticpotentialofhairfolliclederivedstemcells |