Endometriosis and sexual functioning. how much do cognitive and psycho-emotional factors matter

Abstract: Women with endometriosis often suffer from genito-pelvic pain. The objective of the
present study was to analyze the relationship between cognitive and psycho-emotional factors and
sexual functioning of women with endometriosis, comparing women with and without endometriosis.
A total of 87 women with endometriosis (EG) and 100 women without endometriosis (CG) completed
a socio-demographic questionnaire; the short-form of McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ); the
Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI); the Sexual Distress Scale (SDS); the Symptoms Checklist
(SCL-90-R); the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20); the Positive and Negative Affects Scale (PANAS);
the Sexual Dysfunctional Belief Questionnaire (SDBQ); the Sexual Modes Questionnaire (SMQ);
and the Questionnaire of Cognitive Schema Activation in Sexual Context (QCSASC). EG obtained
worse scores than CG in SF-MPQ, Pain subscale of FSFI, and SDS. EG reached higher scores than
CG on almost all scales of SCL-90-R and lower scores in the “Identifying Feelings” scale of TAS-
20. Furthermore, EG reported more negative emotions toward sexuality than CG (PANAS) higher
scores on the “Affection Primacy” scale of SDBQ and the “Helpless” sexual cognitive schema of
QCSASC than CG. No significant differences were found in SMQ. Sexual health professionals
should address psychological, emotional, and cognitive factors since they seem involved in patients’
sexual experiences.