To study the association of sexual dysfunction with quality of life (QOL) while simultaneously examining the shared influence of empirically supported variables that are also associated with diminished interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) QOL (ie, pain, catastrophizing, depression). Previous research has indicated that sexual dysfunction is prevalent, bothersome, and an important predictor of diminished QOL in patients with IC/PBS. However, the deleterious association between sexual dysfunction and QOL has not been investigated in more inclusive models that use validated measures.

Women were recruited from 3 North American centers who agreed to the study and completed measures of QOL, pain severity, IC/PBS symptoms and bother (IC Symptom Index, IC Problem Index), pain catastrophizing, depression, and sexual dysfunction. Hierarchical multivariate regression was executed to test both unique and combined effects.

A total of 115 women, with a mean age of 50 years, participated in this study. Regression modeling showed that diminished QOL physical composite scores were predicted by a longer symptom duration (P = .013), unemployment (P = .017), and greater pain severity (P = .004). In regard to the diminished QOL mental composite scores, the lone predictors included age (P = .029) and pain catastrophizing (P = .002).

In disagreement with previous research, sexual functioning was not associated with diminished physical or mental composites of patient QOL. Furthermore, these data suggest that demographic factors and pain might be predictive of poorer QOL outcomes, and that anxious worry about pain (ie, catastrophizing) is a target for future research and clinical intervention.