The sexual function of women with epilepsy: a comparative study

Introduction Epilepsy is a neurological disease that interferes negatively with many areas of the patient’s life. Sexual dysfunction is a frequent comorbidity in epileptic patients. Quality of life is particularly affected in women, who are also culturally stigmatized because of their illness. Obj...

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Main Authors: N. Sayari, A. Maamri, O. Charaa, A. Tajmout, A. Hajri, H. Zalila
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2022-06-01
Series:European Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822007210/type/journal_article
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author N. Sayari
A. Maamri
O. Charaa
A. Tajmout
A. Hajri
H. Zalila
author_facet N. Sayari
A. Maamri
O. Charaa
A. Tajmout
A. Hajri
H. Zalila
author_sort N. Sayari
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Epilepsy is a neurological disease that interferes negatively with many areas of the patient’s life. Sexual dysfunction is a frequent comorbidity in epileptic patients. Quality of life is particularly affected in women, who are also culturally stigmatized because of their illness. Objectives To assess the sexual function of women with epilepsy compared to healthy women. Methods This was a case-control study of female patients with generalized epilepsy, carried out at the national institute of neurology in Tunisia in 2018. The controls were the patients’ companions in the department. They were matched by age with the cases. Sexual function was assessed by the female sexual function index (FSFI). Results We included 40 cases and 40 controls.Their averge age was 30.45years. In comparison to the controls,the women with epilepsy had less kids ( p=0.04) and more miscarriages (p=0.032). On the other hand, women with epilepsy presented more sexual dysfunctions (p=0. 03) and had a lower total score on the FSFI (p=0.015) as well as significantly lower scores in the domains “desire” (p=0.009), “orgasm” (p=0.026), “satisfaction” (p=0.001) and pain (p=0.015). Conclusions The findings of this study are consisting with the literature, the women with epilepsy in this survey had impaired sexual function. More attention should be paid to these sexual disorders, previously considered secondary or even neglected. Disclosure No significant relationships.
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spelling doaj.art-a049878a99334e169736c5780e45afbc2023-11-17T05:08:13ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-06-0165S281S28210.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.721The sexual function of women with epilepsy: a comparative studyN. Sayari0A. Maamri1O. Charaa2A. Tajmout3A. Hajri4H. Zalila5Razi Hospital, Emergency And Outpatient Departement, manouba, TunisiaRazi Hospital, Emergency And Outpatient Departement, manouba, TunisiaRazi Hospital, Emergency And Outpatient Departement, manouba, TunisiaRazi Hospital, Emergency And Outpatient Departement, manouba, TunisiaRazi Hospital, Emergency And Outpatient Departement, manouba, TunisiaRazi Hospital, Emergency And Outpatient Departement, manouba, Tunisia Introduction Epilepsy is a neurological disease that interferes negatively with many areas of the patient’s life. Sexual dysfunction is a frequent comorbidity in epileptic patients. Quality of life is particularly affected in women, who are also culturally stigmatized because of their illness. Objectives To assess the sexual function of women with epilepsy compared to healthy women. Methods This was a case-control study of female patients with generalized epilepsy, carried out at the national institute of neurology in Tunisia in 2018. The controls were the patients’ companions in the department. They were matched by age with the cases. Sexual function was assessed by the female sexual function index (FSFI). Results We included 40 cases and 40 controls.Their averge age was 30.45years. In comparison to the controls,the women with epilepsy had less kids ( p=0.04) and more miscarriages (p=0.032). On the other hand, women with epilepsy presented more sexual dysfunctions (p=0. 03) and had a lower total score on the FSFI (p=0.015) as well as significantly lower scores in the domains “desire” (p=0.009), “orgasm” (p=0.026), “satisfaction” (p=0.001) and pain (p=0.015). Conclusions The findings of this study are consisting with the literature, the women with epilepsy in this survey had impaired sexual function. More attention should be paid to these sexual disorders, previously considered secondary or even neglected. Disclosure No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822007210/type/journal_articlesexual functionsexualityepilepsyneurology
spellingShingle N. Sayari
A. Maamri
O. Charaa
A. Tajmout
A. Hajri
H. Zalila
The sexual function of women with epilepsy: a comparative study
European Psychiatry
sexual function
sexuality
epilepsy
neurology
title The sexual function of women with epilepsy: a comparative study
title_full The sexual function of women with epilepsy: a comparative study
title_fullStr The sexual function of women with epilepsy: a comparative study
title_full_unstemmed The sexual function of women with epilepsy: a comparative study
title_short The sexual function of women with epilepsy: a comparative study
title_sort sexual function of women with epilepsy a comparative study
topic sexual function
sexuality
epilepsy
neurology
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822007210/type/journal_article
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