Chronic fatigue syndrome and sexual dysfunction

Objective The study was undertaken to determine if ambulant female patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) report problems with their sexual functioning. Methods We studied 35 female CFS patients and 36 healthy female controls. The severity of CFS was measured with a fatigue questionnaire and the presence and severity of sexual dysfunction with a questionnaire about sexual functioning. Results The mean fatigue score was 24.8 in the CFS patients and 11.9 in the controls (P=.000). No increase in sexual dysfunction was found in the CFS group. The control group showed negative correlations between the score of the fatigue questionnaire and the frequency of "sexual fantasies," "(desire for) sexual contact" and "satisfaction with sex life." Such correlations were absent in the CFS group. Conclusion The satisfaction with sex life was similar in patients and controls. The results suggest that patients and controls have a different perception of fatigue.

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