Chronic fatigue syndrome and sexual dysfunction

Journal of Psychosomatic Research, Volume 56, Issue 2 , February
2004, Pages 199-201

Ruud C. W. Vermeulen [a, *]  and Hans R. Scholte [b]

Affiliations:
[a] CFS Research Centre Amsterdam, Waalstraat 25-31, 1078 BR, Amsterdam,
The Netherlands
[b] Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus MC-University Medical Centre
Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

[*] Corresponding author. Tel.: +31-20-4706290; fax: +31-20-4706299
E-Mail: mailto:rcwvermeulen@cfscentrumamsterdam.nl

Received 3 March 2003;  accepted 11 June 2003.  Available online 4 March
2004.

Abstract
Objective: The study was undertaken to determine if ambulant female
patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) report problems with
their sexual functioning.

Methods: We studied 35 female CFS patients and 36 healthy female
controls. The severity of CFS was measured with a fatigue questionnaire
and the presence and severity of sexual dysfunction with a questionnaire
about sexual functioning.

Results: The mean fatigue score was 24.8 in the CFS patients and 11.9 in
the controls (P=.000). No increase in sexual dysfunction was found in the
CFS group. The control group showed negative correlations between the
score of the fatigue questionnaire and the frequency of "sexual
fantasies," "(desire for) sexual contact" and "satisfaction with sex
life." Such correlations were absent in the CFS group.

Conclusion: The satisfaction with sex life was similar in patients and
controls. The results suggest that patients and controls have a different
perception of fatigue.

Author Keywords: Chronic fatigue syndrome; Depression;
Sex life; Sexual functioning


Copyright © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.