{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]],"date-time":"2026-06-09T07:31:18Z","timestamp":1780990278404,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"Knowledge E DMCC","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,1]],"date-time":"2025-11-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1761955200000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["knepublishing.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["IJRM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder that affects approximately 9.2% of women of childbearing age. Physical and psychological changes caused by PCOS might impair women\u2019s sexual function. Women with PCOS may experience one of the most significant complications, which is infertility.\r\nObjective: This study aimed to compare sexual function between fertile and infertile women diagnosed with PCOS.\r\nMaterials and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 364 fertile and 239 infertile women with PCOS who referred to the Arash hospital gynecological clinics, Tehran, Iran from April 2019-February 2020. Participants were divided into 2 groups based on fertility: the fertile group (n = 364) and the infertile group (n = 239). They were asked to fill out a demographic survey and the female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaires. Finally, the sexual performance index and demographic variables were compared between groups.\r\nResults: The total FSFI score for fertile and infertile women was 23.70 \u00b1 6.26 and 24.65 \u00b1 4.04, respectively. Regarding FSFI, the differences between the 2 groups were not statistically significant in terms of total FSFI score (p = 0.391), desire (p = 0.863), lubrication (p = 0.583), satisfaction (p = 0.118), orgasm (p = 0.901), and arousal score (p = 0.405). However, the pain score was significantly higher in the fertile group (3.51 \u00b1 1.27, 3.10 \u00b1 1.11, p &lt; 0.001).\r\nConclusion: Impaired sexual function in infertile women diagnosed with PCOS can be more associated with PCOS-related complications and other concurrent factors that affect sexual function rather than infertility. It seems that the effects of infertility on sexual function can be different in infertile women according to each person\u2019s condition. Hence, screening for sexual dysfunction in women with PCOS and infertility should be deemed as a part of clinical assessment, leading to early diagnosis and improving their quality of life.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.18502\/ijrm.v23i9.20161","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,1]],"date-time":"2025-11-01T13:21:51Z","timestamp":1762003311000},"page":"739-748","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.18502\/knecrossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Comparison of sexual function in fertile and infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A cross-sectional study"],"prefix":"10.18502","volume":"23","author":[{"given":"Khadijeh","family":"Azarbayjani","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shahideh Jahanian","family":"Sadatmahalleh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Negin","family":"Mirzaei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mahsa","family":"Yarjanly","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nadia","family":"Jahangiri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Malihe","family":"Nasiri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mona","family":"Zeinaloo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"7770","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"307931","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[1] Salari N, Nankali A, Ghanbari A, Jafarpour S, Ghasemi H, Dokaneheifard S, et al. Global prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in women worldwide: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2024; 310: 1303\u20131314.","DOI":"10.1007\/s00404-024-07607-x"},{"key":"307932","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[2] Gleicher N, Darmon S, Patrizio P, Barad DH. Reconsidering the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Biomedicines 2022; 10: 1505.","DOI":"10.3390\/biomedicines10071505"},{"key":"307933","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[3] Obeagu EI, Njar VE, Obeagu GU. Infertility: Prevalence and consequences. Int J Curr Res Chem Pharm Sci 2023; 10: 43\u201350.","DOI":"10.22270\/ijmspr.v10i4.123"},{"key":"307934","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[4] Ashrafi M, Jahangiri N, Jahanian Sadatmahalleh S, Mirzaei N, Gharagozloo Hesari N, Rostami F, et al. Does prevalence of sexual dysfunction differ among the most common causes of infertility? A cross-sectional study. 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Iran J Reprod Med 2014; 12: 539\u2013546."},{"key":"307938","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[8] Pastoor H, Timman R, de Klerk C, Bramer WM, Laan ET, Laven JS. Sexual function in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Reprod Biomed Online 2018; 37: 750\u2013760.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rbmo.2018.09.010"},{"key":"307939","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[9] Stovall DW, Scriver JL, Clayton AH, Williams CD, Pastore LM. Sexual function in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Sex Med 2012; 9: 224\u2013230.","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1743-6109.2011.02539.x"},{"key":"307940","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[10] de Mendonca CR, Arruda JT, Noll M, Paulo MdO, do Amaral WN. Sexual dysfunction in infertile women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2017; 215: 153\u2013163.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejogrb.2017.06.013"},{"key":"307941","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[11] Goodarzi MO, Shah NA, Antoine HJ, Pall M, Guo X, Azziz R. Variants in the 5\u03b1-reductase type 1 and type 2 genes are associated with polycystic ovary syndrome and the severity of hirsutism in affected women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2006; 91: 4085\u20134091.","DOI":"10.1210\/jc.2006-0227"},{"key":"307942","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[12] Maroufizadeh S, Riazi H, Lotfollahi H, Omani-Samani R, Amini P. The 6-item female sexual function index (FSFI-6): Factor structure, reliability, and demographic correlates among infertile women in Iran. Middle East Fertil Soc J 2019; 24: 1\u20136.","DOI":"10.1186\/s43043-019-0008-8"},{"key":"307943","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[13] Oindi FM, Murage A, Lema VM, Mukaindo AM. Association of female sexual dysfunction and fertility: A cross-sectional study. Fertil Res Pract 2019; 5: 12.","DOI":"10.1186\/s40738-019-0065-9"},{"key":"307944","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[14] Alihocagil Emec Z, Ejder Apay S, Ozorhan EY. Determination and comparison of sexual dysfunctions of women with and without infertility problems. Sex Disabil 2017; 35: 59\u201372.","DOI":"10.1007\/s11195-016-9471-7"},{"key":"307945","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[15] Salom\u00e3o PB, Navarro PA, Rom\u00e3o APMS, Lerri MR, da Silva Lara LA. Sexual function of women with infertility. Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2018; 40: 771\u2013778.","DOI":"10.1055\/s-0038-1673699"},{"key":"307946","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[16] Luk BHK, Loke AY. The impact of infertility on the psychological well-being, marital relationships, sexual relationships, and quality of life of couples: A systematic review. J Sex Marital Ther 2015; 41: 610\u2013625.","DOI":"10.1080\/0092623X.2014.958789"},{"key":"307947","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[17] Okobi OE. A systemic review on the association between infertility and sexual dysfunction among women utilizing female sexual function index as a measuring tool. Cureus 2021; 13: e16006.","DOI":"10.7759\/cureus.16006"},{"key":"307948","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[18] Co\u015fkuner Potur D, G\u00fcng\u00f6r Sat\u0131lm\u0131\u015f \u0130, Do\u011fan Merih Y, G\u00fcn Kaka\u015f\u00e7\u0131 \u00c7, Demirci N, Ersoy M. Does infertility affect the sexual function and sexual quality of life of women? A case control study. Int J Sex Health 2020; 32: 22\u201332.","DOI":"10.1080\/19317611.2019.1692983"},{"key":"307949","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[19] Maseroli E, Vignozzi L. Are endogenous androgens linked to female sexual function? A systemic review and meta-analysis. J Sex Med 2022; 19: 553\u2013568.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsxm.2022.01.515"},{"key":"307950","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[20] Zheng J, Islam RM, Skiba MA, Bell RJ, Davis SR. Associations between androgens and sexual function in premenopausal women: A cross-sectional study. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2020; 8: 693\u2013702.","DOI":"10.1016\/S2213-8587(20)30239-4"},{"key":"307951","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[21] Nasiri Amiri F, Ramezani Tehrani F, Esmailzadeh S, Tohidi M, Azizi F, Basirat Z. Sexual function in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and their hormonal and clinical correlations. Int J Impot Res 2018; 30: 54\u201361.","DOI":"10.1038\/s41443-017-0006-2"},{"key":"307952","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[22] Yilmaz FA, Avci D, Tahta T. Relationship between marriage satisfaction and sexual functions in couples undergoing infertility treatment. Int J Sex Health 2020; 32: 421\u2013432.","DOI":"10.1080\/19317611.2020.1834046"},{"key":"307953","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[23] Dong M, Xu X, Li Y, Wang Y, Jin Z, Tan J. Impact of infertility duration on female sexual health. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2021; 19: 157.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12958-021-00837-7"},{"key":"307954","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[24] Riazi H, Lotfollahi H, Omani-Samani R, Maroufizadeh S, Montazeri A. Evaluation of sexual function among infertile women and their sexual self-concept. J Reprod Infertil 2020; 21: 291\u2013298.","DOI":"10.18502\/jri.v21i4.4334"},{"key":"307955","unstructured":"[25] Samimi K, Mokarami HR, Haghighi ST, Taban E, Yazdani Aval M, Maasoumi R. Assessment of affecting factors on women\u2019s sexual quality of life among hospital employees. J Gorgan Univ Med Sci 2016; 18: 123\u2013134."},{"key":"307956","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[26] Nikbina M, Afshari P. The sexual satisfaction and related factors in Ahvazi women in 2015. Shiraz E-Med J 2019; 20: e81500.","DOI":"10.5812\/semj.81500"},{"key":"307957","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[27] Alizadeh A, Soleimani F, Barati H, Azizi M. [The assessment of sexual function in female nurses and housewives. Military Caring Sciences 2015; 2: 115\u2013119]. (In Persian)","DOI":"10.18869\/acadpub.mcs.2.2.115"},{"key":"307958","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[28] Naumova I, Castelo-Branco C, Casals G. Psychological issues and sexual function in women with different infertility causes: Focus on polycystic ovary syndrome. Reprod Sci 2021; 28: 2830\u20132838.","DOI":"10.1007\/s43032-021-00546-x"},{"key":"307959","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[29] Kiani Z, Simbar M, Hajian S, Zayeri F. The prevalence of depression symptoms among infertile women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. 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