Abstract
Aim: To systematically compare sexual function between non-treated women with and without
endometriosis.
Methods
A systematic review was performed on PubMed/Medline, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science and
Cochrane Library databases searching studies that analyzed sexual function (assessed with the 19-item
Female Sexual Function Index [FSFI]), and dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain and dysmenorrhea (assessed
with a visual analogue scale [VAS]) in women with and with endometriosis.
Results
In 4 studies, non-treated women with endometriosis presented a higher risk of female sexual
dysfunction (mean total FSFI score /C20 26.55; OR ¼ 2.38; 95% confidence interval [CI] ¼ 1.12, 5.04).
Although mean total FSFI scores were not significantly different between women with and without endo-
metriosis (mean difference [MD] ¼/C0 2.15; 95% CI /C0 4.96, 0.67); all FSFI domain scores were significantly
lower in women with endometriosis ( n ¼ 4 studies): desire (MD ¼/C0 0.43; 95% CI /C0 0.57, /C0 0.19); arousal
(MD ¼/C0 0.66; 95% CI /C0 1.15, /C0 0.17); lubrication (MD ¼/C0 0.41; 95% CI /C0 0.79, /C0 0.02); orgasm (MD ¼
/C0 0.40; 95% CI /C0 0.73, /C0 0.06); satisfaction (MD ¼/C0 0.45; 95% CI /C0 0.72, /C0 0.18); and pain (MD ¼/C0 1.03;
95% CI /C0 1.34, /C0 0.72). Women with endometriosis displayed differences (more severity) in terms of VAS
scores (2 studies) for dyspareunia (MD ¼ 1.88; 95% CI 0.38, 3.37) and chronic pelvic pain (MD ¼ 2.92;
95% CI 1.26, 4.58); but not for dysmenorrhea.
Conclusion
Non-treated women with endometriosis displayed altered sexual function as evidenced by
lower scores in all FSFI domains, and severity of dyspareunia and chronic pelvic pain.
ARTICLE HISTORY
Received 23 June 2020
Revised 17 August 2020
Accepted 17 August 2020
Published online 3 Septem-
ber 2020
Keywords
Chronic Pelvic Pain;
Dyspareunia; Endometriosis;
Female Sexual Dysfunction;
Female Sexual Function
Index; Visual Analogue
Scale
Introduction
Female sexual dysfunction, particularly painful sex, is a common
complaint in adult women of all ages. During reproductive years,
endometriosis is a highly prevalent gynecological disease.
Persistent sexual pain related to endometriosis has been associ-
ated to biological, psychological, sexual and interpersonal factors
[1]. Clinical symptoms of endometriosis include dysmenorrhea,
chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, lumbar pain, dyschezia, dysuria
and infertility. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women
with endometriosis is almost double as compared to those with
other gynecological disorders [ 2]. Dyspareunia and chronic pelvic
pain negatively impact several domains of sexual function, espe-
cially in women with deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) and
rectovaginal or bowel endometriosis as compared to other forms
of endometriosis or healthy women [ 3–5]. There are also psycho-
logical consequences, including mood swings, depressive and
anxious symptoms that, at the same time, may increase pelvic
discomfort [ 6–8]. The objective of this systematic review and
meta-analysis is to compare sexual function between non-treated
women with and without endometriosis.
Methods
Protocol, search strategy, eligibility criteria and
study selection
The systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out follow-
ing the principles of the PRISMA guidelines [ 9]. Formal institu-
tional review board approval was not required, as this analysis
consisted of the pooling of published studies.
A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed-
Medline, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases from
inception through March 9 2020, and without language restric-
tions. We searched for free terms ‘endometriosis’ OR
‘endometrioma’ OR ‘rectovaginal endometriosis ’ AND ‘sexual
functioning’ OR ‘sexual dysfunction ’ OR ‘sexuality’ OR
‘dyspareunia’ OR ‘sexual life ’. The Pubmed search strategy is
available in Appendix A (Supplementary Table A1). An iterative
process was used to ensure that all relevant articles were
obtained. A further manual search of bibliographic references
was also carried out in selected studies and in existing reviews to
identify potential studies that were not captured by the electronic
database searches.
CONTACT: Faustino R. P /C19erez-L/C19opez
[email protected] Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Zaragoza Faculty of Medicine, Domingo
Miral s/n, Zaragoza, 50009, Spain
Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/09513590.2020.1812570.
/C2232020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
GYNECOLOGICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY
https://doi.org/10.1080/09513590.2020.1812570
Eligible for inclusion were relevant cohort and case-control
studies that: (i) assessed women of reproductive age with clinical
endometriosis and those without endometriosis who were not
receiving any hormonal treatment; (ii) evaluated sexual function/
dysfunction as assessed with a validated sexual function/dysfunc-
tion questionnaire; (iii) were in any language irrespective of age,
race, and date of publication; and (iv) were addressing the same
population if they reported complementary information to the
main paper. Articles were excluded if they were narrative reviews,
abstracts and conference proceedings, or non-human studies. All
disagreements regarding inclusion/exclusion were discussed and
solved by consensus with all authors. Meta-analyses were prede-
fined/planned for each validated sexuality questionnaire if reported
in at least two different populations.
Data extraction and risk of bias assessment
A Microsoft Excel sheet was designed for data input. Two
researchers extracted publication details, eligibility and exclusion
criteria, as well as information about the study population and
design, period of study, sample size and clinical characteristics of
the studied population. Discrepancies and controversies of
extracted data were discussed in order to reach a consensus. Due
to the fact that some results were reported as medians and their
25% and 75% confidence intervals, appropriate calculations were
performed to obtain mean and standard deviations that served
for the meta-analysis [ 10].
The methodological quality of the selected studies was inde-
pendently assessed by two authors using the Newcastle –Otawa
Scale for case-controls studies [ 11]. This scale consists of three
broad perspectives including the selection of the study group, the
comparability of the groups, and the ascertainment of the pri-
mary outcome. The maximum score can be 9 stars. Studies with
seven star-items or more are categorized as high quality and
those with six star-items or less as low quality.
Data synthesis and analysis
Forest plots were planned for outcomes reported in at least two
studies using any validated test to assess female sexual function,
using DerSimonian and Laird random-effects models and the
inverse variance method [ 12]. Associations among dichotomous
outcomes are reported as odds ratio (OR); and for continuous
outcomes mean differences (MDs), both with their correspond-
ing 95% confidence interval (CI). We evaluated statistical hetero-
geneity using the Cochrane chi square (X
2), the I2 statistic, and
the between-study variance using the tau square ( s2)[ 13,14].
I2 values of 30 –75% indicate a moderate level of heterogeneity. A
p 1 defines the presence of substantial statistical hetero-
geneity. We planned to estimate the publication bias if there are
at least 10 studies reporting the same outcome [ 15].
The Review Manager program (RevMan, version 5.3, Oxford,
UK; The Cochrane Collaboration) was used for statis-
tical analyses.
Results
Selection and characteristics of the studies
A total of 366 records were identified through systematic data-
base searches and 3 through other sources ( Figure 1 ). After the
removal of duplicates, 314 items were screened by title, leaving
74 for review of abstract content. Eligibility was assessed in 23
full text articles, leaving a total of eleven. Seven of these papers
were excluded, four that did not have a control group and three
that reported in each one data of sexual function assessed by a
different tool. There was one study using the Female Health
Outcomes in Women questionnaires [ 2], one study with the
McCoy Female Sexuality Questionnaire [ 16], one study with the
Female Sexual Quotient [ 5], and four studies using the Female
Sexual Function Index (FSFI) [ 17]. Therefore, a total of 4 studies
reporting results with the FSFI were included in this meta-analysis
(Figure 1 )[ 18–21]. The general characteristics and main relevant
clinical and socio-demographic findings of patients included in the
4s t u d i e sa r ep r e s e n t e di nTable 1.
The FSFI is a 19-item self-reported instrument used to meas-
ure overall sexual function in the past 4 weeks in women who
are sexually active and have a partner. The tool is composed of
six domains of sexual function each providing a score. The sum
of all domain scores yields a total FSFI score. These domains
are: desire (2 items, questions 1&2), arousal (4 items, questions
3&4 and 5&6), lubrication (4 items, questions 7&8 and 9&10),
orgasm (3 items, questions 11&12&13), satisfaction (3 items,
questions 14&15&16), and pain (3 items, questions 17&18&19)
[17]. A total FSFI score of /C20 26.55 was used to define women at
higher risk of sexual dysfunction [ 22].
Meta-analysis of sexual function and dyspareunia
There were no significant mean differences (MD) in terms of age
(MD ¼ 1.69 years, 95% CI /C0 0.14, 3.53; Figure 2(A) ) and total
19-item FSFI scores (MD ¼/C0 2.15, 95% CI /C04.96, 0.67; Figure
2(B)) when comparing women with and without endometriosis
[18–21]. Despite finding no differences in mean total FSFI
scores, women with endometriosis displayed a higher risk of sex-
ual dysfunction (defined as a total FSFI score /C20 26.55) [ 22]
(OR ¼ 2.38; 95% CI 1.12, 5.04, n ¼ 3s t u d i e s ;Figure 2(C))[ 18,19,
21]. Women with endometriosis displayed lower scores in each of
t h eF S F Id o m a i n s :d e s i r e( M D¼/C0 0.43; 95% CI /C00.67, /C00.19,
Figure 3(A)); arousal (MD ¼/C0 0.66; 95% CI /C01.15, /C00.17; Figure
3(B)); lubrication (MD ¼/C0 0.41; 95% CI /C0 0
.79, /C00.02; Figure
3(C)); orgasm (MD ¼/C0 0.40; 95% CI /C00.73, /C00.06; Figure 3(D));
satisfaction (MD ¼/C0 0.45; 95% CI /C0 0.72, /C00.18; Figure 3(E)), and
pain (MD ¼/C0 1.03; 95% CI /C0 1.34, /C00.72; Figure 3(F))[ 18–21].
In two studies, visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores for
dyspareunia were significantly higher in women with endometri-
osis (MD ¼ 1.88; 95% CI 0.38, 3.37; Figure 4(A) )[ 18,19].
Dyspareunia would had been worse if one takes into account
that 7 additional women with endometriosis and one without
endometriosis in the De Graaf et al. study were unable to main-
tain/have sexual intercourse [ 18]. Chronic pelvic pain was also
assessed with a VAS, also showing significantly more pain sever-
ity in women with endometriosis as compared to controls (MD
¼ 2.92; 95% CI 1.26, 4.58; Figure 4(B) )[ 18,19]. Finally, there
were no significant differences in terms of dysmenorrhea inten-
sity between women with and without endometriosis as assessed
with the VAS (MD ¼ 1.80: 95% CI /C02.63, 6.23; Figure
4(C))[ 18,19].
Risk of bias
Appendix A, Supplementary Table A2 displays the assessment of
risk of bias by means of the Newcastle –Otawa Scale [ 11], show-
ing a low risk of bias (score /C21 7).
2 F. R. PÉREZ-LÓPEZ ET AL.
Publication bias
Since there were only 4 studies, we were unable to calculate pub-
lication bias with the funnel plot and the Egger ’s test [ 15].
Discussion
The present meta-analysis found that un-treated women with
endometriosis in their early fourth decade of life have an
increased risk of sexual dysfunction, dyspareunia and chronic
pelvic pain in comparison to those without endometriosis.
Despite this, no significant differences were found in relation to
the severity of dysmenorrhea. Endometriosis is a chronic gyneco-
logical disease that causes a negative impact on physical, psycho-
logical and sexual aspects of life. Regarding sexuality, the impact
of the disease has been studied in different clinical conditions,
treatment scenarios, associated to infertility, and general health
and quality of life. Sexual function is severely compromised in
women who smoke, have dyspareunia, severe chronic pelvic
pain, bladder syndrome, and an increased body mass index or a
family history of chronic pain [ 23,24].
Systematic reviews have analyzed sexual function or dysfunc-
tion among women with endometriosis who had been receiving
various treatments, indicating that more than half of these
women suffer some type of sexual dysfunction [ 25,26]. Although
surgical and pharmacological treatments may improve sexual
function among women with endometriosis, in some cases dis-
comfort during intercourse and sexual dysfunction may persist
[27]. Despite this, to date we are not aware of any meta-analysis
that compares female sexual function and different forms of
genital pain between untreated women with and without
endometriosis.
Among the few available studies, we found 4 reporting the
assessment of sexual function with the 19-item FSFI. This ques-
tionnaire is a useful tool for the evaluation of female sexual func-
tion, and its total score allows us to objectively screen women
who are at a higher risk of sexual dysfunction [ 20, 28]. In our
study, although mean total FSFI scores did not differ among
cases and controls; significant lower scores for each of the
domains of the FSFI were found in women with endometriosis,
suggesting that endometriosis has impaired their sexuality.
Alterations of sexual function in women with endometriosis are
not only related to the disease per se and its stage, yet also to
other factors such as anxiety, depression, sleep problems, exces-
sive body weight and less physical activity [ 29].
Women with endometriosis may have severe chronic pelvic
pain, dysmenorrhea, dischezia, and urinary symptoms. We found
significant higher mean dyspareunia VAS scores in women with
Full text excluded
(n = 7):
• No control group
(n = 4)
Studies repor/g415ng with
a tool other than the
FSFI (n = 3)
Iden/g415fica/g415onScreeningEligibilityIncluded
Full-text ar/g415cles assessed
for eligibility
(n = 11)
Records a/g332er screening
by /g415tle
(n = 74)
Records a/g332er screening
by abstract
(n = 23)
Studies included in the
quan/g415ta/g415ve synthesis
( n = 4)
Studies included in the
qualita/g415ve synthesis
(n = 4)
Records a/g332er removing
duplicates
(n = 314)
Records iden/g415fied
through other sources
(n = 3)
Records iden/g415fied through
database searching
(n = 366)
Figure 1. Flowchart of study selection.
GYNECOLOGICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY 3
Table 1. Characteristics of the included studies assessing sexual function with the Female Sexual Function Index in women with and without endometriosis.
Author;
Date
Study location; Period. Aim of
the study Exclusion criteria Study design and participants Main findings
De Graaf
2016 [ 18]
Maastricht, The Netherlands;
June 2011 to December
2012. Aim: to compare pain
symptoms; medical history;
aspects of mental
functioning; sexual
functioning and quality of
life between women with
endometriosis and a
control group aged 18 to
42 years who had sexual
relationship for at least
three months duration.
Exclusion criteria: hysterectomy, being pregnant,
breastfeeding or to have given birth in the
past three months, have severe comorbidity
such as Crohn ’s disease, type 1 diabetes or
malignancies, and were on medication not
related to endometriosis that could influence
on sexual functioning such as anxiolytic and
antipsychotic medication. Women who
underwent surgery in the inclusion period
were enrolled at least three months
after surgery.
Cross-sectional study. Study population: 83 women with
endometriosis established by means of laparoscopy
or open surgery using the known visual aspects of
the disease. Women had a median age of 25.4 [19.3-
30.9]. Patients with a strong suspicion of the
diagnosis of endometriosis based on symptoms in
combination with a positive pelvic clinical
examination, ultrasound or MRI were also included.
Control group: 40 women attending the outpatient
clinic due to issues related with contraception.
Dyspareunia and depressive symptoms were
associated to impaired sexual functioning in
women with endometriosis, whereas sexual
functioning in their male partners was not
affected. The majority of the participants
were enrolled in a tertiary care center. This
has led to an over-presentation of women
needing tertiary care, and this could have
also led to an over-presentation of
their symptoms.
Evangelista
2014 [ 19]
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; July to
December 2011. Aim: to
assess sexual function in
women with deep
infiltrative endometriosis as
compared to women
recruited in a family
planning clinic.
Patients whose cognitive abilities were
insufficient to comprehend and interpret the
questionnaire were excluded; as well as
those with debilitating chronic illnesses
(diabetes mellitus, hypertension, lupus,
thyroid disease, etc.) and those who had not
engaged in penetrative vaginal intercourse
during the month preceding the
study enrollment.
Cross-sectional, prospective study. Study population: 57
women with DIE and chronic pelvic pain (aged 18 to
45), current sexual activity (onset of sexual activity at
least 1 year prior to study enrollment). DIE diagnosis
was based on pelvic pain and/or infertility associated
with at least two of the following: detection of a
hardened nodule in the vesico-uterine or
rectouterine pouch on vaginal and/or rectal
examination; transvaginal ultrasound or MRI findings
consistent with infiltrating endometriosis in the
pelvis; and surgical visualization or histopathological
confirmation of endometriosis.
Control group: 38 women (aged 18 and 45), sexually
active, with onset of vaginal intercourse at least 1
year prior to study enrollment, no severe
dysmenorrhea (visual analog scale score <8), no
clinical evidence of endometriosis, and with a normal
gynecological examination.
There was no significant difference in total FSFI
scores, and also the desire, arousal and
orgasm domains of the tool. However, there
was a significant difference between the two
groups in the pain domain. Both conclusions
did not change after controlling for potential
confounders.
Ghajarzadeh
2014 [ 20]
Tehran, Iran; January 2013 to
August 2013. Aim: to
evaluate sexual function in
Iranian women with
endometriosis in
comparison with
healthy controls.
Not stated. Cross-sectional study. Study population: 44 women with
laparoscopically diagnosed endometriosis (mean age
33.1 ± 6.8 years); BMI ¼ kg/m2 25.9 ± 5.4. The most
common clinical symptoms were dysmenorrhea (77.2
%), dyspareunia (47.7 %), pelvic pain (27.2 %) and
pain during defecation (25 %).
Control group: 80 healthy women from patient ’s
families and hospital staff, aged 33.5 ± 7.1 years; BMI
¼ 25.9 ± 5.4 kg/m
2.
FSFI total and three domain scores (arousal,
orgasm and pain) were significantly different
between patients and controls. Education
level and BMI were significantly different in
patients with and without sexual dysfunction.
BMI was the independent predictor for total
FSFI score in both case and control groups.
Melis
2015 [ 21]
Cagliari, Italy; January 2010 to
June 2011. Aim: to assess
sexual function, quality of
life, and perceived body
image among women with
deep endometriosis as
compared to
healthy women.
Patients affected by vaginismus or vulvodynia
without deep nodule tenderness. Women
with any hormonal or antidepressant
treatment during the study or during the
month before the study. Most participants
were patients who were sent after surgical
diagnosis by other hospitals without any
hormonal treatment. Patients with any
chronic disease were excluded. Volunteers
were healthy women consecutively recruited
among those coming for a
regional screening.
Cross sectional study. Endometriosis population: 41
women with deep endometriosis after clinical,
biochemical, ultrasonography, MRI evaluation who
were not taking any hormonal or antidepressant
treatment during the study or the prior month.
Mean age was 31.5 ± 6.4 years. A washout period of
2 months was prescribed for 2 patients under
estroprogestin/progestin treatment.
Control group: 40 women without endometriosis
(mean age 30.4 ± 5.1 years).
Deep endometriosis has a significant impact on
sexuality and body image. Women with
endometriosis showed a greater intensity of
pain during and after penetration. Moreover,
significant differences were detected in
sexual function between the women with
and without endometriosis regarding the
FSFI ‘desire’ domain. The differences in the
domains of arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and
satisfaction were not statistically significant.
BMI: body mass index; DIE: deep infiltrative endometriosis; FSFI: Female Sexual Function Index; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging.
4 F. R. PÉREZ-LÓPEZ ET AL.
endometriosis in comparison to the controls. It is important to
mention that 7 women with endometriosis and one without in
the De Graaf et at.[ 18] study were unable to maintain sexual
intercourse due to their history of extreme dyspareunia; hence it
can be presumed that this outcome would be even worse (higher
VAS score) if more studies and/or cases were available. Previous
publications have reported that women with endometriosis who
receive endocrine treatments achieve significant relief of their
dyspareunia while increasing their total FSFI scores (better sexual
function); although in some cases sexual function is not com-
pletely restored [ 30,31].
Chronic pelvic pain is a complex problem observed in women
during their reproductive years. In this sense, endometriosis is a
common cause, but symptoms are not constant and may vary
among populations and throughout time, in fact decreasing or
disappearing after menopause. In the present meta-analysis, we
also found information regarding chronic pelvic pain, assessed
with the VAS, in 2 of the 4 selected FSFI studies. Analysis found
significant differences in terms of more intense chronic pelvic
pain in women with endometriosis as compared to those without
the disease. It seems that endometriosis alters peritoneal homeo-
stasis and induces the production of pro-inflammatory and
angiogenic cytokines [ 32]. Pelvic pain due to DIE may also be
related to compression or infiltration of endometriotic implants
in the sub-peritoneal space [ 33]. Endometriotic lesions are pre-
sent in some 30 to 40% of women subject to laparoscopy due to
chronic pelvic pain [ 34]. However, a 25% of cases can be asymp-
tomatic which may be related to different factors with no clear
or consistent patterns found [ 35]. Chronic pelvic pain may also
be related to psychological dysfunction, anxiety and depression,
decreased levels of self-compassion and emotional regulation, a
history of sexual abuse, previous surgery, and urinary or digest-
ive alterations [ 36–38].
The present meta-analysis found no significant differences in
terms of VAS scores for dysmenorrhea. Dysmenorrhea may be
associated to chronic pelvic and also non-pelvic causes. A recent
meta-analysis pointed out that women with dysmenorrhea have
a higher risk of chronic pelvic pain as compared to those with-
out dysmenorrhea [ 39]. On the other hand, dyspareunia and dys-
menorrhea are less intense in women who only have ovarian
endometriosis in comparison to other locations [ 40]. In fact, as
assessed with different tools, the extension and pain due to endo-
metriosis are not consistently related.
Limitations
The principal limitation of our meta-analysis is the availability of
few studies with only four publications directly comparing sexual
function assessed with the FSFI among un-treated women with
and without endometriosis. Unfortunately, three studies had to
be excluded due to the fact that each one used a different tool
Figure 2. Forest plots comparing women with and without endometriosis according to mean difference of age expressed as years (A), mean difference in total
Female Sexual Function Index score (B), and risk of female sexual dysfunction (odds ratio) according to the FSFI cutoff of /C20 26.55 (C).
GYNECOLOGICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY 5
[2, 5, 16]. These other tools may provide complementary infor-
mation not found with the FSFI. Sexual life and expectations
may change with age and the presence of endometriosis [ 41].
Women of our meta-analysis (with and without endometriosis)
were in their early thirties; hence one should bear in mind that
other age groups may have different sexual function characteristics.
A n o t h e rl i m i t a t i o no fo u rm e t a - a n a l y s i si st h a tc o n t r o l sw e r e
women without endometriosis who attended gynecological consul-
tations for routine checkup, and although having a similar age and
being free of symptoms, they were not subjected to any diagnostic
laparoscopic procedure specific for women with endometriosis.
However this approach would have been unethical.
Figure 3. Forest plots comparing (mean difference) women with and without endometriosis according to scores obtained for each FSFI domain: desire (A), arousal
(B), lubrication (C), orgasm (D), satisfaction (E), and pain (F).
6 F. R. PÉREZ-LÓPEZ ET AL.
Our meta-analysis of dyspareunia showed a significant trend
for higher severity scores in women with endometriosis as com-
pared to controls. Studies with larger samples have reported a
higher prevalence of dyspareunia in women with endometriosis,
although this symptom may also be unrelated to the disease
[42,43]. Several studies have reported that dyspareunia is highly
frequent in women with DIE who also present voiding altera-
tions and psychological distress [ 25, 44,45]. Despite this, other
causes of painful sex in women with endometriosis include
depression or psychological stress [ 46]. Future studies should
combine the assessment of dyspareunia along with the use of
tools that evaluate depressive/anxiety symptoms, and emotional
and sexual function.
Strengths
The first strength of our study is that it meta-analyzed data using
the FSFI. This tool has been widely used to assess female sexual
function, and its components, in quite different circumstances,
diseases and populations throughout nearly two decades [ 47,48].
Secondly, we analyzed cases and controls that had a similar age,
allowing equal comparisons in terms of social and sexual behav-
ior. Despite these strengths, there is a need for studies performed
in younger women in order to: i) assess the negative impact that
the disease has over sexuality; and ii) once identified those with
potential sexual dysfunction, evaluate overtime the impact of the
disease or interventions.
Conclusion
Endometriosis is not a homogeneous disease in its anatomical
characteristics and clinical symptoms. The meta-analyzed infor-
mation could not identify these involved factors and also could
not speculate about the types and extension of endometriosis
due to the small number of included studies. In this sense, one
should mention that higher rates of dyspareunia and chronic
pain in women with endometriosis do not predict their sexual
distress; with metacognitive beliefs having more influence on
sexual distress than pain per se [49]. Despite the existence of pre-
vious systematic reviews, this is the first meta-analysis that
objectively assesses female sexual dysfunction (and different
forms of pelvic pain) in un-treated women with endometriosis
using the FSFI that evaluates standardized components
of sexuality.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Prof. Stefano Angione, from the University of
Cagliari (Italy), for providing complementary information about the
paper by Melis et al. [ 21], included in the meta-analysis. The authors
also thank Ms. M. Salas Valero for her assistance with the study.
Disclosure statement
The authors report no conflicts of interest and are alone responsible
for the content and the writing of the article.
Figure 4. Forest plots comparing (mean difference) women with and without endometriosis according to VAS scores obtained for: dyspareunia (A), chronic pelvic
pain (B), and dysmenorrhea (C).
GYNECOLOGICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY 7
ORCID
Faustino R. P /C19erez-L/C19opez http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2801-416X
L/C19ıa Ornat http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9056-2143
Gonzalo R. P /C19erez-Roncero http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8137-4837
Mar/C19ıaT .L /C19opez-Baena http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9890-8003
Manuel S /C19anchez-Prieto http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7366-0446
Peter Chedraui http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1556-3979
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