Global prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women with skin diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Skin diseases are a category of chronic conditions that often impact patients' appearance, potentially leading to psychological issues, including sexual dysfunction. The present study is an attempt to determine the global prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in women with skin diseases.

Methods: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Embase, and Google Scholar were systematically searched for relevant studies. All published research up to April 2024 imported into EndNote for further analysis. A random-effects model was applied for the analysis, and the I² statistic was used to assess study heterogeneity.

Results: Analysis of 24 studies (45 datasets) indicated that the overall prevalence of FSD in women with skin diseases was estimated at 61.3% (95% CI: 53.9-68.2%). Additionally, subgroup analysis based on skin disease type revealed an FSD prevalence of 69.8% (95% CI: 56.7-80.2%) in women with vitiligo, 59.2% (95% CI: 49.1-68.5%) in those with psoriasis, and 56.5% (95% CI: 47.8-64.8%) in women with hidradenitis suppurativa.

Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of FSD in women with skin diseases. There is a need for policy makers and healthcare providers to prioritize the well-being of these patients.