The association between sexual dysfunction and metabolic syndrome among Turkish postmenopausal women

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the association between sexual dysfunction and metabolic syndrome (MS) among Turkish postmenopausal women

Methods: In total, 290 postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 70 years and 265 premenopausal women between the ages of 30 and 49 years who applied to Menopause and Gynecology Clinics at Marmara University-affiliated Pendik Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey were included in this prospective survey. Sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). A FSFI total score of <26.5 was suggestive of sexual dysfunction. MS was assessed by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria.

Results: Sexual dysfunction prevalence among postmenopausal women was 64.6% in relation to 42.1% in premenopausal women (p = 0.001). MS prevalence was 13.5% among premenopausal women and 15.5% among postmenopausal women (p = 0.57). The total FSFI score and each score in the desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and dyspareunia domains of the FSFI did not differ between premenopausal and postmenopausal women, regarding the MS status. In the premenopausal group, 45.7% of women without MS and 37% of women with MS had lower sexual dysfunction (p = 0.40); whereas in the postmenopausal group, 62.2% of women without MS and 77.4% of women with MS had lower sexual function (p = 0.22).

Conclusion: In our study population, the rate of sexual dysfunction increased in postmenopausal women in contrast to premenopausal women. The MS status did not make a difference in terms of sexual dysfunction either in premenopausal or postmenopausal women. Since our survey was conducted in a tertiary medical center which gave medical care service to women from middle and low socioeconomic classes, our results should be confirmed by a large multicenter survey enrolling women from all different socioeconomic classes.

Chinese abstract

目的：本研究目的是确定土耳其绝经后女性的性功能障碍和代谢综合征（MS）之间的关系。

方法：总共有290名年龄在50至70岁之间的绝经后女性和265名年龄在30至49岁之间的绝经前妇女, 她们在土耳其伊斯坦布尔马尔马拉大学附属彭迪克教育和研究医院更年期和妇科门诊纳入了此项前瞻性调查。采用女性性功能指数（FSFI）评估性功能。FSFI总分<26.5提示性功能障碍。通过国家胆固醇教育计划成人治疗小组III标准评估代谢综合征（MS）。

结果：绝经后女性性功能障碍患病率为64.6％, 而绝经前妇女为42.1％（p = .001）。绝经前女性的MS患病率为13.5％, 绝经后女性的患病率为15.5％（p = .57）。关于MS状态, 总FSFI评分和FSFI的欲望、唤起、润滑、性高潮、满意度和性交困难域中的每个得分在绝经前和绝经后女性中没有差异。在绝经前组中, 45.7％无MS的女性和37％的MS女性性功能障碍较低（p = 0.40）, 而在绝经后组中, 62.2％没有MS的女性和77.4％的MS女性的性功能较低（p = .22）。

结论：在我们的研究人群中, 与绝经前女性相比, 绝经后女性的性功能障碍患病率增加。在绝经前或绝经后女性中, MS状态在性功能障碍方面没有差异。由于我们的调查是在一个三级医疗中心进行的, 该中心为中低社会经济阶层女性提供医疗服务, 我们的结果应该通过一项大型多中心调查, 纳入来自所有不同社会经济阶层的女性来确认。

Keywords:

• Female Sexual Function Index
• menopause
• metabolic syndrome
• sexual dysfunction