The effect of the COVID 19 pandemic on the quality of sexual life in cases with high-risk HPV: HPV, sexual life quality and COVID 19

Fazıl Avcı; Mehmet Kulhan; Memduha Aydın; Abdul Hamid Guler; Mete Can Ateş; Ahmet Bilgi; Ayse Ceren  Duymuş; Çetin Çelik

doi:10.5281/zenodo.8393815

Authors

Fazıl Avcı Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Konya, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9244-9168
Mehmet Kulhan Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Konya, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5478-7510
Memduha Aydın Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Konya, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7679-6568
Abdul Hamid Guler Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Konya, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7708-2302
Mete Can Ateş Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Konya, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7977-2526
Ahmet Bilgi Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Konya, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8682-1739
Ayse Ceren Duymuş Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Konya, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8760-3781
Çetin Çelik Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Konya, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6165-5092

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8393815

Keywords:

Anxiety, COVID 19, depression, human papillomavirus, sexual behavior

Abstract

Objective Although there are studies investigating the impact of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) on sexual life, studies on HPV, hospital anxiety scale (HAS) and quality of sexual life associated with the COVID 19 pandemic are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on quality of sexual life in women with high-risk cervical HPV.

Methods: Of the 136 patients included in this study, 68 had high-risk cervical HPV and were included in group 1 and 68 did not have HPV and were included in group 2. Sociodemographic data of the groups were recorded. The sexual quality of life scale (SQOL), COVID 19 fear scale and HAS scores were administered face-to-face to each patient in both groups.

Results: The median ages of group 1 and group 2 were 38 (25-45) and 37 (24-45) years, respectively (p=0.053). Although demographic data were similar, the number of sexual partners and smoking habits were significantly different between the groups (respectively, p=0.001, and p=0.002). Mean scores for the COVID 19 fear, SQOL, high anxiety and high depression scales were similar between groups (p>0.05). Correlation analysis of SQOL, HAS scale scores and the COVID 19 fear scale were similar (p>0.05).

Conclusion: No negative consequences of the COVID 19 pandemic were detected for the quality of sexual life of patients with high-risk HPV. It would be beneficial to provide psychological support for high levels of anxiety and depression during the COVID 19 pandemic.

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