“You are not the person you used to be…”. A phenomenological study on sexual desire and embodied sexuality in heterosexual women with fibromyalgia syndrome

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to describe and understand how women with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) perceive their sexuality and the changes associated with sexual desire. METHOD: A qualitative methodology based on Merleau-Ponty's phenomenology was used. Data collection included in-depth interviews with fifteen women diagnosed with FMS. RESULTS: Two main themes emerged from the results: "When desire moves between light and shadow" and "Only your partner can understand the traffic light of desire". CONCLUSIONS: Sexual desire is substantially affected by FMS. Understanding the fluctuations in desire and how both the multiple symptoms of FMS and the relationship with one's partner influence it may help individuals adapt to their new emotional situation and sex life.