Sexual dysfunction in women with migraines: a systematic review

Abstract Purpose The goal of this systematic review is to establish the prevalence of sexual dysfunction among women with migraines. Secondarily, this review explores factors contributing to the relationship between sexual dysfunction and migraine in women. Methods A thorough search of PubMed from inception to June 17, 2024 was completed. Search terms included migraine related terms and sexual dysfunction outcome related terms. Two independent reviewers assessed articles for relevance and extracted information from selected articles. Results In this review, a thorough search of the MEDLINE and CINAHL databases yielded 16 studies with 1,715 participants. The results demonstrated prevalence rates of sexual dysfunction in female migraine patients between 22.6% and 90%. There was a pooled prevalence of 69% (95% CI 61–77%) with substantial between-study heterogeneity (I 2 = 78.73%). Prevalence rates of sexual dysfunction were higher in women with migraine than in healthy controls. Migraine characteristics, such as duration, frequency, and pain are associated with sexual dysfunction. A bi-directional correlation exists between psychological factors, such as anxiety and depression, and sexual dysfunction in patients with migraine. Conclusion Migraines are associated with profound impacts on health-related quality of life. Sexual dysfunction is commonly associated with migraine in female patients, indicating that clinicians should routinely screen for sexual dysfunction in this population. Anxiety and depression may play a significant role in female sexual dysfunction in migraine.