Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Derematology, venereology and andrology department, benha faculty of medicine
2
Obstetrics and gynecology department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
3
Psychiatric department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
4
Dermatology Resident at Ministry of Health Hospital, Cairo, Egypt
5
Dermatology, venereology and andrology department, faculty of medicine, Benha university, Egypt
Abstract
Aim: The pandemic of COVID-19 is caused by coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) and leads to severe acute respiratory syndrome. It has dominated people’s life including their psychosexual health. Consequently, we wanted to examine this pandemic effect on female sexual functions in a sample of Egyptian women.
Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and
Andrology of Benha University Hospitals. The study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic on 100 married females of 18–45 years’ old. Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was used to evaluate sexual function, while the psychological aspect was assessed using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), social readjustment rating, Hamilton anxiety rating, and perceived stress scales. The participants were evaluated by answering retrograde questions about their sexual and psychological state before the pandemic. Then they reanswered the questionnaires about their present state during the pandemic..
Results: Total FSFI scores of the participants showed significant reduction during the pandemic when compared with
prepandemic scores (P<0.001). Desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and satisfaction scores reduced, but pain score increased (P<0.001). Concerning psychological evaluation, participants suffered from higher depression, stress, and anxiety levels as evidenced by Beck depression inventory (BDI), Hamilton anxiety rating, Social readjustment rating, and perceived stress scores that increased significantly during the pandemic (P<0.001).A negative correlation was observed between FSFI scores and BDI, Hamilton anxiety rating, social readjustment, and stress scores (P<0.01, r=-0.958, -0.956, -0.987, and-0.986, respectively).
Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have a deleterious impact on female sexual behavior, which can be attributed to elevated stress, anxiety, and depression indices observed throughout the pandemic.
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