Meta-analysis shows increased risk of female sexual dysfunction in women with systemic lupus erythematosus

BackgroundThe prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) among women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is inconsistent, and whether SLE is a risk factor for FSD among women remains controversial. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of FSD among women with SLE and further explore the association between SLE and FSD.MethodsLiterature on the prevalence of FSD among women with SLE was retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases from inception to July 1, 2025. The pooled prevalence was calculated using a random-effects model for the meta-analysis. The Cochran Q and I2 tests were employed to examine heterogeneity among the studies, while subgroup analyses and meta-regression were conducted to identify potential sources of heterogeneity.ResultsThis meta-analysis included 13 studies involving 1,511 women with SLE and 2,246 healthy controls. The pooled prevalence of FSD among women with SLE was 58.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.461–0.716). Compared with the healthy control group, women with SLE had a significantly increased risk of FSD (odds ratio, 2.64; 95% CI, 1.27–5.47).ConclusionThis systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated a high prevalence of FSD among women with SLE and a significant association between SLE and an increased risk of FSD.Systematic review registrationhttps://inplasy.com/inplasy-2025-7-0092/,identifier 202570092.