{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,16]],"date-time":"2026-10-16T07:15:40Z","timestamp":1792134940459,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,15]],"date-time":"2022-09-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1663200000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/journals\/pages\/open_access\/funder_policies\/chorus\/standard_publication_model"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,15]],"date-time":"2022-09-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1663200000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.elsevier.com\/tdm\/userlicense\/1.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["jsm.jsexmed.org","elsevier.com","sciencedirect.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Background<\/jats:title><jats:p>Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a common autoimmune dermatological condition that is often under-diagnosed in women and has been documented to affect quality of life and sexual function.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Aim<\/jats:title><jats:p>To determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction among women with vulvar lichen sclerosus.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the existing research on LS and sexual function in database including PubMed using search terms: lichen sclerosus OR vulvar lichen sclerosus OR vulvar lichen sclerosus et atrophicus OR kraurosis vulvae) AND (sexual function OR sexual functions OR sexual disorder OR sexual disorders OR sexual activity OR sexual activities OR sexual dysfunction OR sexual dysfunctions OR dyspareunia OR vaginismus).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Outcomes<\/jats:title><jats:p>Nearly 60% of women with lichen sclerosus suffer from sexual dysfunction.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Two hundred and ten studies were initially identified. Twenty-six articles met inclusion criteria and 3 were excluded as they did not relate to sexual function, were regarding a surgical or medical intervention and sexual dysfunction and one was a review article. Therefore, 23 studies were included in the final analysis resulting in a cumulative 486 participants with LS with 208 patients experiencing any kind of sexual dysfunction. Meta-analysis presented prevalence of sexual dysfunction among LS patients as 59% (95% CI: 48 \u2013 70%). Dyspareunia or generalized pain with intercourse was the most commonly reported type of dysfunction.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Clinical Implications<\/jats:title><jats:p>Discussing sexual concerns with women with LS could empower them to seek treatment.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Strengths and Limitations<\/jats:title><jats:p>Few articles met criteria for inclusion.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>A large proportion of women with LS experience sexual dysfunction. More research is needed, especially that which includes biopsy-proven LS and validated tools on sexual function.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsxm.2022.07.011","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,15]],"date-time":"2022-09-15T09:19:34Z","timestamp":1663233574000},"page":"1616-1624","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/elsevier_cm_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":33,"title":["Lichen Sclerosus and Sexual Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"19","author":[{"given":"Rachel","family":"Pope","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Urology InstituteUniversity Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center , Cleveland, OH , USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Min Ho","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anna","family":"Myers","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Urology InstituteUniversity Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center , Cleveland, OH , USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Junmin","family":"Song","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Keimyung University School of Medicine , Daegu , Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ramy","family":"Abou Ghayda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Urology InstituteUniversity Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center , Cleveland, OH , USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jong Yeob","family":"Kim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sung Hwi","family":"Hong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Yonsei University College of MedicineSeverance Hospital , Seoul , Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Se Bee","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ulsan University College of Medicine , Seoul , Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ai","family":"Koyanagi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Deu\/CIBERSAM, ISCIIIUniversitat de BarcelonaFundacio Sant Joan de DeuSant Boi de Llobregat , Barcelona , Spain"},{"name":"ICREA , Barcelona , Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Louis","family":"Jacob","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Deu\/CIBERSAM, ISCIIIUniversitat de BarcelonaFundacio Sant Joan de DeuSant Boi de Llobregat , Barcelona , Spain"},{"name":"Faculty of MedicineUniversity of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines , Montigny-le-Bretonneux , France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lee","family":"Smith","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for HealthPerformance and WellbeingAnglia Ruskin University , Cambridge , UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jae Il","family":"Shin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of PediatricsYonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,15]]},"reference":[{"issue":"7","key":"2023041407231621100_","first-page":"477","article-title":"Prevalence of vulvar lichen sclerosus in a general gynecology practice","volume":"50","author":"Goldstein","year":"2005","journal-title":"J Reprod Med"},{"issue":"9166","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1777","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(98)08228-2","article-title":"Lichen sclerosus","volume":"353","author":"Powell","year":"1999","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"issue":"1","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"219","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1743-6109.2010.02077.x","article-title":"The treatment of vulvar lichen sclerosus and female sexual dysfunction","volume":"8","author":"Burrows","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Sex Med"},{"issue":"9","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1740","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsxm.2020.06.016","article-title":"A qualitative exploration of women's experiences of living with chronic vulvar dermatoses","volume":"17","author":"Sadownik","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Sex Med"},{"issue":"7","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1080","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsxm.2016.04.072","article-title":"A qualitative study on experiences after vulvar surgery in women with lichen sclerosus and sexual pain","volume":"13","author":"Brauer","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Sex Med"},{"issue":"1","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"28","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1440-0960.2007.00322.x","article-title":"Clinical review of 202 patients with vulval lichen sclerosus: a possible association with psoriasis","volume":"48","author":"Simpkin","year":"2007","journal-title":"Australas J Dermatol"},{"issue":"2","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"257","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsxm.2018.12.012","article-title":"Clitoral phimosis: effects on female sexual function and surgical treatment outcomes","volume":"16","author":"Chmel","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Sex Med"},{"issue":"4","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"467","DOI":"10.1111\/aogs.12852","article-title":"Complications after surgery for the relief of dyspareunia in women with lichen sclerosus: a case series","volume":"95","author":"Burger","year":"2016","journal-title":"Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand"},{"issue":"3","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"299","DOI":"10.23736\/S0392-0488.17.05849-7","article-title":"Dyspareunia in vulvar lichen sclerosus: an overview of a distressing symptom","volume":"155","author":"Corazza","year":"2020","journal-title":"G Ital Dermatol Venereol"},{"issue":"5","key":"2023041407231621100_","first-page":"351","article-title":"Effect of lichen sclerosus on sexual function and parturition","volume":"40","author":"Dalziel","year":"1995","journal-title":"J Reprod Med"},{"issue":"2","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.1080\/0167482X.2020.1857359","article-title":"Evaluation of genital self-image and sexual dysfunction in women with vulvar lichen planus or lichen sclerosus","volume":"43","author":"Y\u0131ld\u0131z","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol"},{"issue":"2","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"152","DOI":"10.1159\/000332831","article-title":"Health-related quality of life and patient-defined benefit of clobetasol 0.05% in women with chronic lichen sclerosus of the vulva","volume":"223","author":"Schwegler","year":"2011","journal-title":"Dermatology"},{"issue":"1","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"80","DOI":"10.1097\/LGT.0000000000000085","article-title":"High prevalence of sexual dysfunction in a vulvovaginal specialty clinic","volume":"20","author":"Gordon","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Low Genit Tract Dis"},{"issue":"11","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"774","DOI":"10.1258\/095646205774763252","article-title":"Lichen sclerosus: are there really no long-term disturbances in sexual function?","volume":"16","author":"Richardson","year":"2005","journal-title":"Int J STD AIDS"},{"key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"38","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejogrb.2020.12.030","article-title":"Outcome of perineoplasty and de-adhesion in patients with vulvar Lichen sclerosus and sexual disorders","volume":"258","author":"Lauber","year":"2021","journal-title":"Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol"},{"issue":"4","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"251","DOI":"10.1002\/sm2.90","article-title":"Patient satisfaction of surgical treatment of clitoral phimosis and labial adhesions caused by lichen sclerosus","volume":"3","author":"Flynn","year":"2015","journal-title":"Sex Med"},{"issue":"11","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2645","DOI":"10.1111\/jdv.16637","article-title":"Pictorial representation of illness and self-measure to assess the perceived burden in patients with chronic inflammatory vulvar diseases: an observational study","volume":"34","author":"Corazza","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol"},{"issue":"2","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"145","DOI":"10.1097\/LGT.0000000000000282","article-title":"Quality of life and sexual distress in women with erosive vulvovaginal lichen planus","volume":"21","author":"Cheng","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Low Genit Tract Dis"},{"issue":"12","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3395","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1743-6109.2009.01505.x","article-title":"Sexual functions and depressive symptoms after photodynamic therapy for vulvar lichen sclerosus in postmenopausal women from the Upper Silesian Region of Poland","volume":"6","author":"Skrzypulec","year":"2009","journal-title":"J Sex Med"},{"issue":"4","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"501","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bjps.2016.12.008","article-title":"Surgical treatment of disabling conditions caused by anogenital lichen sclerosus in women: an account of surgical procedures and results, including patient satisfaction, benefits, and improvements in health-related quality of life","volume":"70","author":"Rangatchew","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg"},{"issue":"4","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"279","DOI":"10.3109\/0167482X.2010.507890","article-title":"The effect of vulvar lichen sclerosus on quality of life and sexual functioning","volume":"31","author":"Van de Nieuwenhof","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol"},{"issue":"4","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"430","DOI":"10.1684\/ejd.2019.3580","article-title":"The Female sexual function index to assess patients with moderate to severe vulvar lichen sclerosus","volume":"29","author":"Gutierrez-Ontalvilla","year":"2019","journal-title":"Eur J Dermatol"},{"issue":"9","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"765","DOI":"10.1089\/jwh.2014.4805","article-title":"The impact of vulvar lichen sclerosus on sexual dysfunction","volume":"23","author":"Haefner","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Womens Health (Larchmt)"},{"issue":"2","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"110","DOI":"10.1111\/ajd.13197","article-title":"The vulval disease quality of life index in women with vulval lichen sclerosus correlates with clinician and symptom scores","volume":"61","author":"Felmingham","year":"2020","journal-title":"Australas J Dermatol"},{"issue":"9","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1101","DOI":"10.1111\/1346-8138.14533","article-title":"Vulvar lichen sclerosus: a single-center retrospective study in China","volume":"45","author":"Yang","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Dermatol"},{"issue":"11","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1539","DOI":"10.1002\/sim.1186","article-title":"Quantifying heterogeneity in a meta-analysis","volume":"21","author":"Higgins","year":"2002","journal-title":"Stat Med"},{"issue":"5","key":"2023041407231621100_","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1243","DOI":"10.1097\/AOG.0b013e31817578ba","article-title":"Practice Bulletin No. 93: diagnosis and management of vulvar skin disorders","volume":"111","author":"ACOG","year":"2008","journal-title":"Obstet Gynecol"}],"container-title":["The Journal of Sexual Medicine"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/api.elsevier.com\/content\/article\/PII:S1743609522015454?httpAccept=text\/xml","content-type":"text\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/api.elsevier.com\/content\/article\/PII:S1743609522015454?httpAccept=text\/plain","content-type":"text\/plain","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jsm\/article-pdf\/19\/11\/1616\/49878392\/jsm_19_11_1616.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jsm\/article-pdf\/19\/11\/1616\/49878392\/jsm_19_11_1616.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,26]],"date-time":"2023-11-26T23:58:15Z","timestamp":1701043095000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jsm\/article\/19\/11\/1616\/7012892"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,15]]},"references-count":27,"journal-issue":{"issue":"11","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,15]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,1]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jsxm.2022.07.011","relation":{},"ISSN":["1743-6109","1743-6095"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1743-6109","type":"electronic"},{"value":"1743-6095","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published-other":{"date-parts":[[2022,11]]},"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,15]]},"assertion":[{"value":"Elsevier","name":"publisher","label":"This article is maintained by"},{"value":"Lichen Sclerosus and Sexual Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis","name":"articletitle","label":"Article Title"},{"value":"The Journal of Sexual Medicine","name":"journaltitle","label":"Journal Title"},{"value":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jsxm.2022.07.011","name":"articlelink","label":"CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version"},{"value":"article","name":"content_type","label":"Content Type"},{"value":"Copyright \u00a9 2022, International Society of Sexual Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.","name":"copyright","label":"Copyright"}]}}