Effect of menses on standardized assessment of sexual dysfunction among women with uterine fibroids: A cohort study

Objective To determine if assessment of sexual dysfunction by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) is related to whether the FSFI is administered during or between menses, in women with symptomatic uterine fibroids. Design Prospective cohort. Setting Academic medical centers. Patient(s) Premenopausal women who had symptomatic uterine fibroids and were enrolled in fibroid treatment trials. Intervention(s) Administration of FSFI during and between menses. Main Outcome Measure(s) Mean FSFI scores in each of 6 domains, and a discordance score to report individual differences in assessment. Result(s) Thirty-three women completed the FSFI, during menstruation, and at a time in their cycle when they were not menstruating. The mean FSFI scores for each domain did not differ based on when in the menstrual cycle the instrument was administered. However, on an individual level, nearly half of the women reported sexual dysfunction differently during menses than between menses. Of those that reported differences, the pain and desire domains improved; the lubrication and satisfaction domains worsened during menses. Conclusion(s) Although the mean values of the domain scores were not different, women did report differences in sexual functioning during vs. between menses. Timing of the questionnaire in relation to menses should be considered in sexual-dysfunction assessment for women with uterine fibroids. Clinical Trials Registration Number NCT00995878.