Sexual problems, marital intimacy and quality of sex life among married women: A study from an Islamic country

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Female sexual problems as a multifactorial phenomenon is influenced by numerous psychological, interpersonal, physiological and cultural determinants especially among Muslim women, where complaining about sexual issue is not easy. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of sexual problems and assess its contributing factors.

Methods: In 2016, applying a cross-sectional study, cluster, random sampling was employed to recruit 475 married women in the range of 20–35 years of age referred to the urban health centers in Tabriz, Iran. The self-administered Female Sexual Function Index, Sexual Quality of Life-Female and Marital Intimacy were completed by the respondents.

Results: Considering the cut-off point of sexual dysfunction index, about 73.7% of the respondents were suffering from sexual problems. In addition, sexual problems, quality of sex life and marital intimacy differed mostly by sex-related behaviors and the characteristics of female sexual dysfunction were related to the quality of sex life and marital intimacy (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: High prevalence of sexual problems among Iranian women is an alarming issue that threatens their quality of sex life, marital intimacy and consequently, mental health. Our findings will help family health policy-makers to plan and implement sexual health promotion programs aiming at improving sexual life among couples.

KEYWORDS:

• Sexual dysfunction
• sexual problems
• women
• quality of sex life
• marital intimacy
• Islamic country

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Tabriz University of Medical Sciences [grant number TB-6731-1].

Notes on contributors

Fahimeh Haghi

Fahimeh Haghi is MSc student in Health Education, Department of Health, School of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz Iran.

Hamid Allahverdipour

Hamid Allahverdipour is PhD in Health Education, Professor, Department of Health, School of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz Iran.

Haidar Nadrian

Haidar Nadrian is PhD in Health Education & Promotion, Assistant Professor, Department of Health, School of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz Iran.

Parvin Sarbakhsh

Parvin Sarbakhsh is PhD in Biostatistics, Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics School of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz Iran.

Mina Hashemiparast

Mina Hashemiparast is PhD in Health Education & Promotion, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran.

Mojgan Mirghafourvand

Mojgan Mirghafourvand is PhD in Reproductive Health, Associate Professor, Department of Reproductive Health, School of Nursing & Midwifery Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz Iran.