Yasemin MİRZA, Adem KÜÇÜK
Rheumatology Quarterly - 2026;4(3):218-226
Objective: This study aimed to determine the severity of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) in women with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) using patient-reported outcome measures and to examine its relationship with sexual dysfunction, pelvic floor health knowledge, disease activity, and fatigue. Methods: A total of 51 women diagnosed with FMS (mean age: 46.14 +/- 8.06 years) who attended a rheumatology outpatient clinic and met the eligibility criteria were enrolled. Sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Pelvic floor symptoms and their impact were evaluated with the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20) and the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-7 (PFIQ-7), while knowledge and awareness were measured using the Pelvic Floor Health Knowledge Test (PFHKT). Disease activity and fatigue were assessed via the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), respectively. Associations were examined using Spearman correlation analysis. Results: Weak correlations were observed between PFDI-20 scores and FIQ, FSS, and several FSFI domains (r = 0.23-0.34, P < .05). Pelvic floor-related symptoms, including bladder, bowel, and pelvic organ complaints, were negatively associated with sexual function domains. As expected, strong positive correlations were observed between the total and subscale scores of the PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 (r = 0.67-0.93, P < .001). Conclusion: Pelvic floor dysfunction may be associated with impaired sexual function and greater disease burden in women with FMS. Incorporating pelvic floor assessment into clinical evaluation and considering multidisciplinary management approaches may be beneficial. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the relatively weak correlations observed and the absence of a control group.
