Sexual dysfunction is related with childhood trauma in female patients with fibromyalgia

Objective: Childhood trauma (CT) is frequently observed in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and may cause various physical and mental morbidities. Sexual functioning is severely affected by CT. It was aimed to assess of the relationship between CT and sexual functioning in female patients with FMS. Methods: Consecutive outpatients with FMS (n=49, mean age: 40.82 +/- 6.91) and a control group similar to patient group in terms of age and education (n= 45, mean age: 38.60 +/- 5.84) were enrolled. Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-28), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were the measures. Results: Patients had signifycantly lower scores than healthy control group in FSFI. Total, emotional abuse, physical abuse, emotional neglect and physical neglect subscores of CT scale was significantly higher in FMS group. FSFI total score and CTQ-28 score was negatively correlated significantly in patient group. Predictors of sexual dysfunction in FMS was impact of the disease and CT in linear multiple hierarchical regression analyses. Regression equation was not significant in control group. Discussion: History of physical and emotional abuse at childhood was more frequent in this FMS sample and was related with sexual dysfunction. Trauma at early age may disturb stress processing and coping with daily stress. That may cause fragility in interpersonal relationships, difficulty in feeling warm towards the partner and consequently sexual dysfunctions.