OBJECTIVES: This systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to characterize and assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measures in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD).

METHODS: A SLR was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, using PubMed, Embase and PsycINFO® for research studies published through December 31, 2019. All abstracts identified in this search were independently screened by 4 reviewers, and articles were selected for review if they assessed HRQOL in women with HSDD. The reference lists of articles selected for full-text review were further inspected to identify relevant articles not captured in the database search. Information pertaining to the study design: sample, results, HSDD symptoms, HRQOL measures, and patient outcomes reported were included in a set of data extraction tables.

RESULTS: 10,047 abstracts were identified. After the removal of duplicates, conference proceedings, and book chapters, 5,865 were screened, and 83 articles were included in this study. 34 instruments to assess female sexual dysfunction were identified. Psychometrics of 17 measures were reported for primarily Caucasian women with HSDD. The most frequently reported domains were sexual desire (n=15); arousal (n=9); orgasm (n=9); and distress (n=5). 5 measures assessed desire and distress. Two measures of desire and distress in women with HSDD, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and the Female Sexual Distress Scale Revised (FSDS-R), were used in over 50% of the 16 clinical trials investigating HSDD treatments. Measures not specific to sexual desire and distress were included in 4 clinical trials: SF-36; EQ-5D; Mental Health Inventory; and Patient Health Questionnaire.

CONCLUSIONS: Inferences about HRQOL among women with HSDD are limited due to the lack of uniformity in domains assessed and psychometric evaluation in diverse populations. Reliable and valid HRQOL measures that include sexual desire and distress, may provide a more systematic and consistent assessment of treatment benefits, and HRQOL in women with HSDD.