To examine whether adding a sexual dysfunction domain to urinary, psychosocial, organ specific, infection, neurologic or systemic, and tenderness (UPOINT) system improves the association with interstitial cystitis and bladder pain syndrome (IC-BPS) symptom severity due to a high prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women.

A total of 90 Chinese women with IC-BPS were prospectively collected and classified in each domain of the UPOINT system. Symptom severity was measured using the Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index (ICSI). The sexual function was evaluated using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Clinically relevant associations were calculated.

The percentage of patients positive for each domain were 90 of 90 (100%), 33 of 90 (37%), 88 of 90 (98%), 21 of 90 (23%), 36 of 90 (40%), 38 of 90 (42%), 62 of 90 (69%) for the urinary, psychosocial, organ specific, infection, neurologic or systemic, tenderness, and sexual dysfunction, respectively. There were significant associations between the number of domains and ICSI (Spearman r = 0.386; P <.05) and FSFI (Spearman r = 0.614; P <.001) scores. After adding a sexual dysfunction domain to create a modified UPOINTS system, the association between the number of domains and symptom severity was improved (correlation coefficient r changed from 0.386 to 0.572; P <.001). The presence of sexual dysfunction had a significant impact on the ICSI scores (P = .032), pain scores (P = .042), and quality of life index scores (P = .035). Significantly reduced FSFI scores were found in patients who had positive psychosocial, organ specific, and tenderness domains (all P values <.05).

Our study demonstrated sexual dysfunction was an important component of IC-BPS phenotype, and adding a sexual dysfunction domain to the UPOINT system improved the association with IC-BPS symptom severity.