Sexual Dysfunction in Infertile Women With PCOS Undergoing Fertility Treatment

Overview

Infertility, defined as the inability to become pregnant after one year of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. It is estimated that around 20 % of couples suffer from infertility with prevalence rates of infertility differing substantial among countries . Sexual function in females is very complex and is affected by many factors. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction is higher in infertile patients compared to the normal population . Whether sexual dysfunction is the cause or consequence of subfertility is difficult to establish. For instance, sexual dysfunction might result in decreased coital frequency compounding the issue of subfertility due to reduced exposure. On the other hand, the psychological pressure to get pregnant stemming from sex on demand could result in a reduction in enjoyment of sex aggravating sexual dysfunction. Indeed, situational sexual dysfunction and loss of a couple's intimacy may occur as a consequence of timed intercourse where focus for coitus is no longer pleasure but conception .

Our work is an observational analytic cross-sectional study that included an Egyptian convenient sample of 186 females with primary infertility due to polycystic ovary syndrome. Patients aged 18-35 were recruited from Kasr Al-Ainy Gynecology Clinic (Infertility Clinic) Medicine Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University. They were diagnosed with primary infertility and polycystic ovary by Rotterdam criteria . Patients with medical conditions (apart from PCOS complications like type II diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome) or receiving antidepressant therapy were excluded. Females with other causes of infertility associated with PCOS (e.g uterine factors, tubal factors) were not included. Patients with history of psychotic disorders or substance abuse were excluded. All patients approved to participate in the study and signed an informed consent to confirm this approval. Intervention : A- Gynecological Assessment : Using Kasr Al Ainy infertility sheet that include clinical history taking of amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea. assessment of age years and type of infertility, medical history, surgical history, weight , height, history of hirsutism, ultrasound finding, speculum examination and hormonal profile including (FSH, LH, E2, Prolactin, TSH and progesterone) also history of any surgical intervention and type of fertility treatment were obtained . Vaginal ultrasound and speculum examination were done to every patient. PCOS was diagnosed using Rotterdam criteria based on identifying at least two of the following three features: oligo/anovulation , hyperandrogenism: clinical (hirsutism or male pattern alopecia) or biochemical (raised free androgen index or free testosterone) \& polycystic ovaries on ultrasound (a follicle number per ovary of \> 10). Other etiologies must be excluded such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia, androgen secreting tumours, Cushing syndrome, thyroid dysfunction and hyperprolactinaemia . Laboratory work up including : 1. LH/FSH ratio: Many women with PCOS have LH and FSH levels still within the 5-20 mlU/ml range, but their LH level is often two or three times that of the FSH level 2. Prolactin level: (1-20 ng/mL) 3. Estradiol level : (ranging from 20-400 pg/mL in healthy normal women) 4. TSH level : (normally 0.35- 5 μU/mL). TSH is checked to rule out other problems, such as an underactive or overactive thyroid, which often cause irregular or lack of periods and anovulation . All blood samples (FSH-LH- E2 -PRL-TSH) were obtained at the second day of menstrual cycle in all women within the last six months before the interview B-Data collection tool was a questionnaire completed through interviews in private meetings by the researcher. The questionnaire was composed of two parts: demographic characteristics and information about sexual relationship (such as frequency of sexual contacts per week, satisfaction with sexual and non-sexual relationships). Sexual dysfunction measurement were done by gynecologists/sexologists in infertility center on the basis of a diagnostic interview according to the Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI) The FSFI is a reliable test for the assessment of sexual function in women. The Arabic version of this test, was used. The FSFI is comprised of six domains (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain) with score ranges of 0 (or 1) to 5. The total FSFI score ranges from 2.0 to 36. The translated version of the FSFI test was used in this study. All questions in the FSFI questionnaire were explained by the physician one by one, and they were filled in a suitable and silent environment where patients could comfortably share such intimate information. Analysis of data will be done by using SPSS ( statistical program for social science version 23 ) . Quantitative data will be statistically represented in terms of mean ± standard deviation (± SD) while categorical data will be represented as frequency and percentage. Comparison of quantitative data will be done using (Mann Whitney U ) test for independent samples while categorical data will be compared using ( Chi squared test ) or ( Fisher exact test ) when appropriate. Correlation coefficient test will be used to rank different variables against each other where a probability value (p value) \> 0.05 will be considered statistically insignificant , a probability value (p value) \< 0.05 will be considered statistically significant \& a probability value (p value) \< 0.001 will be considered statistically highly significant.