Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease that may affect all aspects of life including sexual function. Unfortunately, sexual dysfunction is a greatly neglected area of the quality of life of rheumatic patients and still taboo among both patients and health professionals.
However, new scientific evidence suggests that sexual function disorders in SSc are characterized by high prevalence and are an important issue for both men and women. The etiology of sexual dysfunction in SSc is multifactorial and includes factors associated with both physical and psychological status.
The most common manifestations in women with SSc are vaginal dryness, dyspareunia and vaginal tightness. Erectile dysfunction is a frequent but also often underestimated symptom in men with SSc.
The incidence of erectile dysfunction in patients with SSc ranged from 12 to 81% in different studies. The main psychological factors, that may affect sexuality, are fear, depression, and changes in the appearance of the face and body that usually leads to impaired self-esteem.
This review provides a summary about the impact of systemic sclerosis on sexual functioning, diagnostic approaches and treatment options for sexual dysfunctions in men and women with this disease.