The effect of gestational diabetes mellitus on sexual function, anxiety, depression and quality of life in pregnant women

INTRODUCTION: Gestational diabetes during pregnancy causes many adverse effects in mothers and affects them in various aspects. The aim is to investigate the impact of gestational diabetes during the course of pregnancy on patients’ quality of life, depression and anxiety levels, and sexual functions.
METHODS: The study was conducted on 131 third-trimester pregnant women (healthy pregnant women: 79, patients with GDM: 52) by using the WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) between September 2020 and August 2021. The patients with GDM were then divided according to their treatment strategies (Lifestyle Modification: 43 and Insulin Therapy: 9) for further evaluations.
RESULTS: Healthy pregnant women have a higher score (69.30±14.68) on the general health domain of WHOQOL-BREF than patients with GDM (63.22±18.25) with statistical significance (p=0.037). The Insulin Therapy Group has a significantly (p=0.008) lower psychological health score (60.18±18.05) on the psychological health domain of WHOQOL-BREF than the Lifestyle Modification Group (76.06±15.05). There was no significant difference in FSFI, BAI, BDI, and other domains of WHOQOL-BREF scores between the two groups and treatment strategies.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Suffering from GDM or using different treatment options has no impact on patients’ quality of life, levels of depression or anxiety, or sexual function.