Sexualidade de mulheres diagnosticadas com Doença Falciforme: uma revisão de escopo

Abstract

Sickle cell disease is a chronic hereditary hemoglobinopathy that causes systemic complications and impacts various dimensions of life, including sexuality. This study aimed to map the available scientific evidence on the sexuality of women diagnosed with sickle cell disease in different healthcare settings. This is a scoping review conducted according to the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR. The search was performed in the PubMed, LILACS, Scopus, SciELO, Embase, and Web of Science databases, without time restrictions, including original studies published in Portuguese, English, or Spanish. 1,049 studies were identified, of which 20 comprised the final sample. The results were organized into five thematic categories: Reproductive planning/Contraception, Health intervention/Health education, Fertility, Gender, and Sexual function. Studies predominantly focused on reproduction, as well as the impact of the disease and the use of hydroxyurea on fertility, pain during intercourse, decreased libido, changes in self-image, fear of abandonment, and lower sexual function scores when compared to women without Sickle Cell Disease. It is concluded that the sexuality of women with Sickle Cell Disease remains unexplored beyond the reproductive dimension, revealing the need for comprehensive, interdisciplinary care approaches sensitive to the clinical, psychosocial, and cultural specificities of this population.