Evaluation of Women's Sexual Functions After COVID-19 Infection

Objectives: Sexual health is an essential component of life quality. In this study, we aim to compare the sexual dysfunction of women who had a history of COVID-19 and those who did not have been infected by COVID-19.

Methods: This study was conducted in a tertiary center between May 2020 and December 2020. Our study group included 50 women treated for COVID-19 at home, and control group included 51 women with no history of COVID-19. Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI) was used to assess of these patients' sexual dysfunctions.

Results: Sexual dysfunction in women with a history of COVID-19 was found to be significantly higher than those with no history of COVID-19. Sexual dysfunction development risk in women with a history of COVID-19 (study group) was 3.4 times higher compared to women with no history of COVID-19 (control group) (p=0.008). In addition, high number of children and low economic status were found to be predictive for sexual dysfunction after recovery (p=0.02 and p=0.024, respectively). Arousal, orgasm, satisfaction subscale scores, and total FSFI scores in women with a history of COVID-19 were significantly lower than those with no history of COVID-19 (p=0.011, p=0.002, p=0.028, and p=0.008, respectively).

Conclusion: Sexual dysfunction in the patients with a history of COVID-19 seems to be higher than in women with no history of COVID-19. Increased parity and low economic status are predictive for sexual dysfunction after treatment. There is a need for future studies relating to the effect of the COVID-19 infection in women's sexual functions.