Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40395229›Full record

ArticleSexual medicine2025

Female sexual dysfunction: prevalence and risk factors in a cohort of women living with HIV in Italy.

Martina Salvi, Giorgio Tiecco, Maria Alberti, Francesco Castelli, Emanuele Focà, Eugenia Quiros-Roldan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Sexual medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

6 authors.

Martina SalviDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
Giorgio TieccoDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
Maria AlbertiDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
Francesco CastelliDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
Emanuele FocàDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4395-5379
Eugenia Quiros-RoldanDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) has an impact on the lives of many women, and it is inadequately investigated by medical professionals in women living with HIV (WLWH). Aim: In the present study, the aim was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of sexual dysfunction (SD) in a cohort of WLWH using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. Methods: This monocentric cross-sectional study was conducted at the ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Italy, between April 2023 and August 2023. To assess SD, the FSFI questionnaire was administered in accordance with current European AIDS Clinical Society guidelines to all consecutive cisgender adult WLWH who presented to our unit of Infectious Diseases. We used FSFI < 26.55 to identify participants at risk of SD. Participants were divided into two groups based on the pathological cut-off of FSFI score. Outcome: Comparison of demographic characteristics, menopausal status, and comorbidities among the two different groups of WLWH. Results: The questionnaire was offered to 371 women and 179 (48.2%) completed it. Of the 192 (51,8%) excluded, there were 129 women who declined to participate and 63 who were unable to do so due to a language barrier. Two-thirds (117/179) of individuals declared sexual intercourse in the previous month and were considered. Among those who completed the questionnaire, 36% scored below the FSFI total cut-off, indicating increased risk of SD. The most frequently impaired domains were desire (56.4%) and lubrication (52.1%). The correlation between age and total FSFI score was significant ( Clinical Implications: Age and menopausal status are substantial factors influencing sexual functionality. Strengths and Limitations: This study is limited by its reliance on self-reported data and a sample size that may be insufficient for detecting subtle effects. However, it leverages the well-validated FSFI tool and benefits from trusted questionnaire administration by HIV healthcare providers. Conclusion: Sexual dysfunction in menopausal WLWH has a high prevalence (36%). Interestingly, around 67% of women declined to investigate and deal with sexual issues.

Indexed as

female sexual dysfunctionFSFIHIVwomen

Identifiers

PMID40395229
PMCPMC12090195

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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.