(342) An Analysis of the Relationship between Female Sexual Dysfunction and Opioid Use for the Management of Chronic Pelvic Pain
Authors: Nkansah M , Alzweri L 
Published: May 2023

Introduction

The burden of suffering in women with chronic pelvic pain is often times debilitating. Women with chronic pelvic pain often have a symptomatology that is poorly understood. Sexual function and desire are both a multi-system phenomenon involving the nervous, vascular, and endocrine systems and sexual dysfunction can a detrimental effect on women’s physical and emotional health. There is currently limited studies and awareness about the long-term effects of tramadol and other opioids on the endocrine system, sexual desire, and sexual dysfunction in women.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to assess the role that use of tramadol and other opioids has in sexual function and desire in women with chronic pelvic pain. The sexual dysfunction should be substance induced, the symptoms must occur after or during the use or dependence of the substance, symptoms must cease after cessation of substance use, and the medication must demonstrate an etiology that can lead to sexual disfunction.

Methods

The methods for this systematic literature search have been developed according to the recommendations from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statements. PubMed as well as 7 key electronic databases (including MEDLINE, Ovid, and ScienceDirect), and up-to-date editions of pertinent journals and organizational websites were searched. Criteria for including studies consisted of randomized control trials, cohort studies, and studies that had relevance to criteria for chronic pelvic pain, female sexual disfunction, opioids, tramadol, healthcare inequities, and hypoactive sexual desire disorder. The studies were assessed for value, author, and how data from the included studies were obtained, investigated, evaluated, and synthesized.

Results

Currently, there is very limited literature on the incidence of sexual dysfunctions, especially in women. There are no scientifically defined norms for sexual behavior, emotions, or desire. Life demands, marital troubles, sickness, medicine, weariness, or boredom can all contribute to a decrease in sexual interest. Treatments for psychiatric disorders have been proved to be effective, but there is little published research on how drugs interact with female sexual function.

Conclusions

We will also evaluate the proposed solutions that can be developed for practitioners to better treat patients suffering from chronic pelvic pain and female sexual dysfunction. Women’s health practitioners should use the FSIS along with other scoring modalities for sexual disfunction to discuss benefits, risks, and treatment plans for patients who are also on concurrent opioid therapies. Providing healthcare professionals with information concerning sexual behavior may overcome useless and sometimes dangerous barriers and improve patient management, since sexual well-being is considered one of the most important aspects of one's wellbeing and quality of life. Examining the effects of tramadol and other opioids on sexual desire and function in women who do not have chronic pelvic pain is an issue in sexual health that needs more research so that practitioners can better treat their patients holistically.

Disclosure

No