Females with hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome self-report more sexual problems than chronic pain controls without hypermobility, males, or patients with hypermobile spectrum disorders

Background: Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSDs) are heritable connective tissue disorders characterized by widespread fragile soft connective tissue affecting the skin, ligaments, joints, vasculature, and internal organs. Although hEDS and HSD are autosomal-dominant conditions and would be expected to display a 1:1 sex ratio, studies report higher prevalence in women. Objectives: The purpose of this exploratory study was to determine whether self-reported sexual problems differed between females and males diagnosed with hEDS or HSD compared with controls with chronic pain but no hypermobility. Methods: In this exploratory retrospective study, we examined 1,407 patients diagnosed with hEDS or HSD according to the 2017 diagnostic criteria for eight indicators of sexual problems based on a validated screening tool. Results: = 0.018). However, the small number of males in this study limits conclusions that can be drawn for them. Conclusions: This study is unique because we examine sex differences in sexual problems in patients with hEDS and HSD. Our findings indicate a higher percentage of sexual problems in females with hEDS than chronic pain controls without hypermobility, but this was not observed for females with HSD.