Medical conditions and sexual dysfunction in post-menopausal women

Abstract

Medical conditions could partly underlie sexual dysfunction among post-menopausal women. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between medical conditions and sexual function in post-menopausal women. This is a cross-sectional study of 405 post-menopausal women. A multistage random sampling was initially carried out. The data was collected through interviews using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire and a self-administered questionnaire, and was analyzed using the chi-square test, the t-test and multiple linear regression. The results showed that sexual dysfunction was more prevalent among the participants with medical conditions (p = 0.037). Scores of arousal (p = 0.000), orgasm (p = 0.018), and satisfaction (p = 0.026), along with the FSFI total scores (p = 0.005), were significantly lower in the participants suffering from cardiovascular disorders. Scores of desire (p = 0.001), arousal (p = 0.006), lubrication (p = 0.010), orgasm (p = 0.004), and satisfaction (p = 0.022), as well as the FSFI total scores (p = 0.017), were significantly lower among the participants with diabetes. Scores in the pain domain were significantly lower among those with musculoskeletal disorders (p = 0.041). We conclude that cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, and musculoskeletal disorders could have a negative impact on the sexual function of post-menopausal women. Therefore, these conditions need to be taken into consideration in order to improve these women’s sexual function.

Keywords:

• Sexual function
• menopause
• medical problems

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the post-menopausal women residing in Chalus and Noshahr, Iran, for their participation in this study.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Soheila Nazarpour

Dr Soheila Nazarpour is assistant professor in the Department of Midwifery, Chalous Branch, Islamic Azad University, Chalous, Iran. She is also the dean of Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery in this university. She is graduated from Shahid Beheshti University, as the top student in 2008. She has more than 30 papers in the indexed Journals based on Google scholar with h index 7, 14 papers based on Scopus with h index 4, and more than 20 papers based on Pubmed.

Masoumeh Simbar

Masoumeh Simbar is a full professor of reproductive health at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (the second ranked university) in Iran. She is director of Midwifery and Reproductive Health Research Center (MRHRC). She has more than 300 papers in the indexed Journals based on Google scholar with h index 26, more than 130 papers based on Scopus with h index 18, and more than 120 papers based on Pubmed. Based on Scopus, She is among the first 1 percent scientists in the field of Reproductive health. She is also the first ranked scientists among the university professors in this field in Iran.

Fahimeh Ramezani Tehrani

Dr Fahimen Ramezani Tehrani is a gynecologist and full professor and director of Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center in the Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. She has more than 200 papers in the indexed Journals based on Google scholar with h index 23.

Hamid Alavi Majd

Dr Hamid Alavi Majd is full Professor of Biostatistics. He is the faculty member of Department of Biostatistics, School of Paramedicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. He has more than 200 papers in the indexed Journals based on Google scholar with h index 20.