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ORIGINAL ARTICLE Frequency of sexual dysfunction in women with rheumatic diseases 1 2 1 Clarissa de Castro Ferreira , Licia Maria Henrique da Mota , Ana Cristina Vanderley Oliveira , 3 4 5 6 Jozélio Freire de Carvalho , Rodrigo Aires Corrêa Lima , Cezar Kozak Simaan , Francieli de Sousa Rabelo , 7 7 8 José Abrantes Sarmento , Rafaela Braga de Oliveira , Leopoldo Luiz dos Santos Neto ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women followed up at the Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic of the Hospital Universitário de Brasília and of the Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo with the following rheumatic diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus; rheumatoid arthritis; systemic sclerosis; antiphospholipid antibody syndrome; and fi bromyalgia. Methods: The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), obtained by applying a 19-item questionnaire that assesses six domains (sexual desire, arousal, vaginal lubrication, orgasm, sexual satisfac- tion and pain), was used. Results: This study assessed 163 patients. The mean age was 40.4 years. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction was 18.4%, but 24.2% of the patients reported no sexual activity over the past 4 weeks. Patients with fi bromyalgia and systemic sclerosis had the highest sexual dysfunction index (33%). Excluding patients with no sexua