Female Sexual Dysfunction as a Warning Sign of Chronic Disease Development

Purpose of Review Female sexual dysfunctions (FSD) in chronic diseases are often multi-factorial, integrating several bio-psychological and socio-environmental components. The aim of this review is to summarize existing evidence on the association between the most common chronic conditions and FSD and also to frame systematically experimental findings into a comprehensive overview on candidate mechanisms through which chronic diseases drive FSD pathogenesis. Recent Findings In men, it is now clear that several chronic diseases favour the development of sexual dysfunction (SD), especially erectile dysfunction (ED), by an integration of multiple pathogenic factors. More importantly, in men, ED has been recognized as a harbinger of several serious underlying medical conditions, including the cardiovascular ones. Conversely, the nature of the relationship between SD and chronic diseases in women remains controversial and, in contrast to the well-established associations with ED in men, FSD is not yet acknowledged as a warning sign of other systemic diseases. In this review of literature, we try to demonstrate that this is changing because there are some clinical and research evidences about the importance to recognize FSD in chronic disease. Specifically, we summarize the recent findings about the relation between cardio-metabolic, respiratory, renal, neurologic and rheumatic diseases and FSD. Summary Management of FSD is an important task to improve the overall quality of life of patients suffering from chronic, longstanding and often progressive diseases. It is also possible that sexual symptoms might be a warning sign for unrecognized conditions, although this is far to be completely understood. Further studies are needed to fully understand and treat this emerging topic in specific clinical settings.