Asthma Associated With Impaired Sexual Function in Women, Study Finds
Asthma may negatively affect sexual function and sexual quality of life in women, even when marital adjustment remains intact, according to a case-control study evaluating the broader psychosocial impact of chronic airway disease. The findings underscore the importance of addressing quality-of-life domains that are not routinely assessed in asthma care.
The cross-sectional study included 80 women with asthma and 80 matched controls recruited from an outpatient setting. Participants completed validated instruments assessing sexual function, sexual quality of life, marital adjustment, and asthma control. The Arizona Sexual Experience Scale–Female and the Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire–Female were used to measure sexual outcomes, while the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale assessed relationship dynamics.
Women with asthma reported significantly worse sexual function and lower sexual quality of life compared with controls. In contrast, marital adjustment scores did not differ significantly between groups, suggesting that the impact of asthma was specific to sexual well-being rather than overall relationship stability.
The authors concluded that “asthma adversely affects women’s sexual function and sexual quality of life,” while noting that it “does not have a significant impact on marital adjustment.” They further emphasized that “sexuality may be compromised by asthma, thereby reducing the overall quality of life.”
Asthma symptoms such as dyspnea, fatigue, and activity limitation may contribute to reduced sexual satisfaction and performance. These findings align with broader evidence that chronic inflammatory diseases can influence physical and emotional aspects of intimacy.
Reference
Bülbül T, Türk M, Mucuk S, Yilmaz İ, Kaplan Ö. Does asthma affect women's sexual life and marital adjustment?. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. Published online December 31, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2025.12.023
