Evidence mapPaperPMID 42388862Full record

Observational studyFrontiers in endocrinology2026

Phenotype-based profiling of female sexual function in pregnancy: a cross-sectional study.

Roberta Scairati, Nunzia Verde, Guendalina Del Vecchio, Francesco Castaldo, Chiara Graziadio, Nicola Tecce, Rosario Pivonello, Renata Simona Auriemma, Annamaria Colao

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Frontiers in endocrinology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Roberta ScairatiDipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Diabetologia, Andrologia e Nutrizione, Università Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy.
Nunzia VerdeDipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Diabetologia, Andrologia e Nutrizione, Università Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy.
Guendalina Del VecchioDipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Diabetologia, Andrologia e Nutrizione, Università Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy.
Francesco CastaldoDipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Diabetologia, Andrologia e Nutrizione, Università Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy.
Chiara GraziadioDipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Diabetologia, Andrologia e Nutrizione, Università Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy.
Nicola TecceDipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Diabetologia, Andrologia e Nutrizione, Università Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy.
Rosario PivonelloDipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Diabetologia, Andrologia e Nutrizione, Università Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy.
Renata Simona AuriemmaDipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Diabetologia, Andrologia e Nutrizione, Università Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy.
Annamaria ColaoDipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Diabetologia, Andrologia e Nutrizione, Università Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Sexual function during pregnancy is commonly described in terms of overall decline or sexual dysfunction prevalence, potentially overlooking heterogeneity across individual domains. We aimed to identify distinct sexual function phenotypes during pregnancy and to examine whether gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with poorer sexual function or specific sexual profiles. Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, 83 pregnant women undergoing routine GDM screening between weeks 24 and 28 of gestation completed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Clinical and obstetric data were collected. K-means cluster analysis on standardized FSFI domain scores identified multidomain phenotypes. Group comparisons and multivariable regression models were performed. Results: Sexual dysfunction was present in 51 of 83 women (61.4%). Three sexual phenotypes were identified: preserved sexual function (n=49), global sexual impairment (n=25), and desire-satisfaction dissociation (n=9). Pre-pregnancy weight differed across phenotypes (p=0.026). Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, twin pregnancy, and conception by assisted reproductive technology (ART) were more frequent in the desire-satisfaction dissociation phenotype (p=0.024, p=0.042, and p=0.048, respectively). Older age (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01-1.32; p=0.041) and lower pre-pregnancy weight (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.92-0.99; p=0.019) were independently associated with global sexual impairment. GDM was not associated with total FSFI score, sexual dysfunction prevalence, or phenotype distribution. Discussion: Female sexual function during pregnancy is heterogeneous and distributed across distinct multidomain phenotypes. Gestational diabetes mellitus did not explain this heterogeneity, whereas phenotype-based profiling identified distinctive sexual patterns. These findings support a more nuanced framework for studying sexuality in pregnancy beyond dichotomous definitions of dysfunction.

Indexed as

Diabetes, GestationalPregnancy ComplicationsSexual BehaviorSexual Dysfunction, PhysiologicalSexual Dysfunctions, PsychologicalAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansPhenotypePregnancycluster analysisfemale sexual functiongestational diabetes mellituspregnancysexual phenotypes

Identifiers

PMID42388862
PMCPMC13318766

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.