Survey study, 2006
Do women with fibromyalgia have more reproductive problems and sleep problems?
Yes. Women with fibromyalgia were significantly more likely to have PMS, period pain, and sleep problems, and were less physically active and reported more sexual dysfunction.
What they did
Telephone survey comparing 442 women with fibromyalgia syndrome to 205 women without, looking at health status, reproductive diagnoses, sleep-related diagnoses, and lifestyle behaviors. Results were adjusted for age, BMI, race, employment, marital status, education, income, and depression history.
What they found
Women with fibromyalgia were significantly more likely to have PMS, dysmenorrhea, breast cysts, bladder cystitis, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and abnormal leg movements. They used less than half the calories per week (689 versus 1499 kcal per week), had more sleep difficulties and negative changes in sexual function, and had lower alcohol use.
What it means for you
If you have fibromyalgia, you should be screened for reproductive problems including PMS. Doctors should also look for sleep problems and assess physical activity and sexual function. Main limits: cross-sectional design cannot prove fibromyalgia causes these problems; data was self-reported by telephone; cannot be certain the groups were similar in other important ways.
442
Women with fibromyalgia
205
Women without fibromyalgia
689 vs 1499 cal
Physical activity per week
About the study
- Original title
- Women's health issues with fibromyalgia syndrome
- Authors
- Shaver JL, Wilbur J, Robinson FP et al.
- Journal
- Journal of women's health (2002)
- Year
- 2006
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 442
- What was tested
- No intervention; observational comparison
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2006.15.1035
Topics
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