One third of patients with rheumatoid arthritis have sexual problems, according to the results of a study presented at the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and published on the Eurekalert website. Lack of libido, painful intercourse, orgasmic dysfunction, premature ejaculation and unsatisfactory sex life are often the lot of these sufferers.
Researchers at the Center for Rheumatoid Arthritis in Bogota, Colombia analyzed the factors responsible for influencing the prevalence and worsening of sexual disorders in 1,298 rheumatoid arthritis patients, with an average age of 55 years.
Factors of sexual dysfunction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
For a third (33%) of women and 6% of men, infidelity promotes sexual disorders. Biological or physical causes are involved for 17% of women and 3% of men. Being uncomfortable or uncomfortable causes sexual dysfunction for 32% of women and 16% of men.
People with rheumatoid arthritis develop chronic sexual problems
Researchers have also analyzed the factors responsible for chronic disorders. They identified several.
Indeed, the findings of the study reveal that 11% of chronic sexual disorders are caused by biological causes in women and 15% in men. The deterioration of the couple relationship causes 9% of women and 19% men with chronic sexual problems.
The researchers also found that the partner’s sexual dysfunction could be involved, such as depression and anxiety.
“Sexuality is an important dimension of an individual’s personality, and sexual problems can have a serious and negative impact on the couple relationship,” explained lead author Dr Pedro Santos-Moreno of the Center for rheumatoid arthritis from Bogota to Colombia. “It is therefore quite surprising that so far very little research on sexual disorders in patients with rheumatoid arthritis has been published in the literature,” he added.
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