Sexual function in endometriosis patients and their partners: effect of the disease and consequences of treatment

Nicola Pluchino, Jean-Marie Wenger, Jean‐Marie Wenger, Patrick Petignat, Reshef Tal, Mylene Bolmont, Mylène Bolmont, Hugh S Taylor, Francesco Bianchi-Demicheli, Francesco Bianchi‐Demicheli
Human reproduction update · 2016 · vol. 22(6) , pp. 762–774 · doi:10.1093/humupd/dmw031 · PMID:27591248 · W2514018909
review OA: bronze CC0 ⤵ 137 in-corpus citations
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-06 ⓘ

Endometriosis negatively impacts women's sexual function through dyspareunia, pain, and comorbidities, with treatments often under-investigated for their effects on overall sexual function and relationship quality.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sexual function is an important aspect of health and quality of life and is influenced by both medical conditions and health-care interventions, especially when gynecologic disorders are involved. Coital pain is among the main factors that affect sexual functioning, and this symptom is reported by almost half of women suffering from endometriosis. However, sexuality is a complex phenomenon driven by social, psychological and biological/hormonal factors and the presence of endometriosis might further affect domains of sexual function and the quality of a sexual relationship. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE: The objective of this report is to review the current state of knowledge on the impact that endometriosis and its treatments have on the sexual function of women and their sexual partners. SEARCH METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed to identify studies evaluating sexual function in endometriosis patients, and a narrative analysis of results is presented. The review discusses relevant quantitative and qualitative studies analyzing the effect of endometriosis and its hormonal and surgical treatments on measures of sexual function and quality of sexual relationship. OUTCOMES: Endometriosis negatively affects different domains of sexual function, and the presence of dyspareunia is not the only determinant of sexual health in these women. Chronic pelvic pain, advanced stages of disease and the presence of physical and mental comorbidities affect sexual function, as well as personality traits and women's expectations. Although a number of studies have evaluated the effect of surgery and hormonal treatment on deep dyspareunia, overall sexual function and quality of the relationship with the partner are often under-investigated. WIDER IMPLICATIONS: Multiple clinical and personal determinants affect sexual function in women with endometriosis, with potentially negative consequences on the sexual function of partners and quality of the relationship. Additional prospective and longitudinal investigations are warranted using specific instruments to analyze biopsychosocial variables of sexual pain in endometriosis patients and the effects that actual treatments have on measures of quality of sexual function and relationship.

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Condition tags

dyspareuniaendometriosischronic_pelvic_pain

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Quality of Life Sexual Behavior Adult Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Dyspareunia Dyspareunia Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Humans Pelvic Pain Pelvic Pain Pelvic Pain Sexual Behavior Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological Sexual Partners

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (100)

Cited by (50)

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