Prevalence and differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus regarding female sexual dysfunction: a cross-sectional Egyptian study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the female sexual dysfunction in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at Suez Canal University Hospitals from the start of February 2015 to the end of May 2016 among 189 married premenopausal women attending endocrinology and diabetology outpatient clinic for regular follow-up; 25 of whom refused to participate and 18 more were excluded due to incomplete data sets resulting in a final sample of 146 diabetic females. Ninety healthy women were recruited from the administrative staff at the hospital as a control group. Sexual dysfunction was assessed using female sexual function index (FSFI), a validated 19-item, self-administered, screening questionnaire comprising the six major sexual domains: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain. Responses to each question were reported and scored on 0–5 scale with 0 representing no sexual activity and 5 suggestive of normal sexual activity.

Results: Prevalence of sexual dysfunction was significantly higher in both type 1 and 2 DM groups (44 and 25%, respectively) than in the control group (9%). FSFI mean total score was significantly lower in type 1 DM (21.1 ± 3.9) than type 2 DM (26.4 ± 4.2) and both were significantly lower than the control group (31.5 ± 5.8). With regard to FSFI domains, mean values for desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain were significantly lower in both type 1 and type 2 DM groups when compared with the controls.

Conclusion: FSD is a significant health problem among premenopausal diabetic Egyptian women. Type 1 DM women were more affected than type 2 DM that in turn was more affected than healthy control females.

Keywords:

• Diabetes mellitus
• Egypt
• female sexual dysfunction
• female sexual function Index

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank our patients for participating in the study. We also appreciate the help of the nursing staff in the endocrinology and diabetology outpatient clinic throughout the course of the study.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Current knowledge of the study

• FSD is a significant health problem among premenopausal diabetic Egyptian women.

• Type 1 DM women were seriously more affected than type 2 DM that in turn was more affected than healthy control females.

What this study adds

• The present study is one of the first studies to assess female sexual function in Arabic conservative community as Egypt.

• The present study is one of the first studies to highlight the real prevalence of this neglected problem.

• Further community-based longitudinal studies are recommended in diabetic-related sexual dysfunction.