Prevalence of female sexual dysfunction among diabetic females: a cross-sectional case controlled study

ABSTRACT

Background

Sexual relationships, sexual functions are all parts of the female sexual identity and which influence physiological, psychological, and reproductive functions of women.

Aim of the work

The study aimed to identify prevalence of Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) in women affected by type 1 and type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and to evaluate the impact of diabetes on female sexuality.

Patient and Methods

This cross-sectional study was carried out on 400 married females who were interviewed to answer Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire and were divided into two groups: the first group included 300 diabetes patients (134 patients with type 1 DM and 166 patients with type 2 DM), while the second included 100 women not diagnosed with diabetes who served as controls.

Results

Considering female sexual dysfunction (score < 26.55), there was statistically significant increase of patients with female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in Type 1 DM (50.7%) when compared to type 2 DM patients (28.9%) or control group (10.0%).

Conclusion

FSD is a significant health problem in premenopausal women complaining of DM. Females with type 1 DM were more affected than females with type 2 DM, who in turn were more affected than healthy controls. Long duration of the disease was the main risk factor for developing FSD.

KEYWORDS:

• Female sexual dysfunction
• marriage
• diabetes
• female

Highlights of the study

• Women suffering from diabetes were found to experience higher rates of sexual dysfunction and inadequate lubrication.

• Sexual dysfunction in females with diabetes in Middle East and in Egypt specifically remains to be understudied and there is a lack of data concerning its prevalence rates.

Declaration of funding

No funding has been received for the production of this manuscript.

Disclosure of any financial/other conflicts of interest

The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Ethics

Study approval statement: This study protocol was reviewed and approved by Al Azhar University of Damietta committee on human research (No. IRB00012367-19–03–035).

Consent to participate statement: Written informed consents were received from participants upon explanation of the study.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.