Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32377958›Full record

Observational studyRheumatology international2021

Sexual performance and pelvic floor muscle strength in patients with fibromyalgia: a controlled cross-sectional study.

Hellen Cristina Souza de Carvalho Fusco, Marco Antônio Pontes Filho, Rafael Treitero Consolo, Adriana Claudia Lunardi, Elizabeth Alves Gonçalves Ferreira

Open access · bronzeAbstract readObservational Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Rheumatology international, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
1.1field-weighted citation impact, top 25% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2026
    Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Hellen Cristina Souza de Carvalho FuscoDepartment of Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Cipotanea Street, 51, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. hellenfusco@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6162-1458
Marco Antônio Pontes FilhoDepartment of Rheumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8242-5808
Rafael Treitero ConsoloDepartment of Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Cipotanea Street, 51, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Adriana Claudia LunardiDepartment of Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Cipotanea Street, 51, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6133-3816
Elizabeth Alves Gonçalves FerreiraDepartment of Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Cipotanea Street, 51, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0678-0186
Universidade de São Paulo · BRHospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo · BR

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by chronic and widespread pain, sleep disturbances, fatigue, psychological distress and morning stiffness. These patients also present symptoms such as depression, sexual dysfunctions and reproductive problems. Sexuality involves several aspects, including pelvic floor functionality, and one question is whether the sexual performance of women with fibromyalgia is associated with pelvic floor function or other characteristics of the disease.

objectiveThe aim of this study was to gauge the association between perineal function and sexual performance in women with and without fibromyalgia.

methodsWe performed a cross-sectional study with 109 sexually active women from 19 to 65 years of age, either suffering from fibromyalgia (FM group, n = 51) or free from fibromyalgia (non-FM group, n = 58). Perineal function was measured with the use of perineometry and digital vaginal palpation (PERFECT Scheme), while sexual performance was assessed by the Sexual Quotient Female questionnaire (QS-F).

resultsPatients with fibromyalgia presented poor sexual performance compared to those without fibromyalgia (QS-F score 58 (32-66) vs. 66 (56-70); p = 0.002) as well as lower pelvic floor muscle strength measured by perineometry (32.5 (18.2-40.5) vs. 37.9 (23.4- 57.3); p = 0.03). Patients without fibromyalgia presented a positive correlation between perineometry and QS-F (r = 0.22; p = 0.038), while those with fibromyalgia presented no correlation between those two variables (r = 0.22; p = 0.12). The regression model showed an association between sexual performance and the presence of fibromyalgia, pelvic floor muscle strength (perineometry) and age, according to the following equation: sexual performance = 48.52 + (9.5 * non-FM group) + (0.23 * perineometry)-(0.4 * age), with adjusted R

conclusionWomen with FM present poor sexual performance and lower pelvic floor muscle strength compared to those without FM. However, the correlation between these variables among women without FM was not observed in women with FM. Sexual performance showed a positive association with absence of fibromyalgia and higher pelvic floor muscle strength, and a negative association with age.

Indexed as

Muscle StrengthAdultAgedCase-Control StudiesCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleFibromyalgiaHumansMiddle AgedPelvic FloorQuality of LifeSexual Dysfunction, PhysiologicalSurveys and QuestionnairesFibromyalgiaPelvic floorQuality of lifeSexuality

Identifiers

PMID32377958
OpenAlexW3021367017

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.