Ongoing Pain, Sexual Desire, and Frequency of Sexual Intercourses in Females with Different Chronic Pain Syndromes

The aim of this study was to assess the importance of an active sex life, the ability to feel sexual desire, and the frequency of sexual intercourses in females suffering from four different chronic pain syndromes. Forty female pain patients and forty-one healthy control subjects participated. The following parameters were assessed: pain intensity, pain duration, the importance of an active sex life, the ability to feel sexual desire, and the frequency of sexual intercourses. The patients found an active sex life less important than the healthy control subjects. A total of 23 (58%) of the females with chronic non-malignant pain experienced no ability to feel sexual desire at all. The pain patients had a significantly lower frequency of sexual intercourses than the control subjects (2 per month versus 9 per month) (p<0.01). Chronic non-malignant pain of different aetiologies was shown to have a significant influence on the rating of the importance of an active sex life, the ability to feel sexual desire, and the frequency of sexual intercourses. This may be an important aspect to include when counseling pain patients and their partners.