Decreased Sexual Desire among Middle-Aged and Old Women in China and Factors Influencing It: A Questionnaire-Based Study.

Ye Zhu,Wei Zhu,Xiangling Fan,Xin Yang,Cheng Tan,Dandan Ren,Yange Sun,Yanjie Wang,Jose C Adsuar

doi:10.1155/2021/6649242

Abstract

Objective This survey was designed and conducted with an aim to present data on sexual desire and activity in Chinese women. Methods Between October 2013 and December 2013, we surveyed 3000 women (aged 40–65 years) at Beijing No. 2 Hospital and the Yuetan Community Health Service Center using a questionnaire. The primary outcomes included determination of sexual desire in the past 4 weeks, reasons for stopping sexual activity, and postmenopausal syndrome. The secondary outcome was determination of factors for low sexual desire. Results A total of 2400 women (mean age 54.33 ± 6.25 years; mean menopausal age 50.11 ± 3.31 years) returned the questionnaire, with 58% of women reporting lowered sexual desire and 39.3% reporting stoppage of sexual activity. Compared with the postmenopausal group, the incidence of anxiety, depressive, somatic, and vasomotor symptoms was higher in the perimenopausal group. Muscle and joint pain (45.8%) and vaginal pruritus (21.5%) were the most commonly reported menopausal and vulvovaginal symptoms, respectively. The odds of decrease in sexual desire were significantly higher with older age, menopause, presence of gynecological disease, menopausal depression symptoms, menopausal vasomotor symptoms, and vulvovaginal atrophy; only cesarean delivery (odds ratio = 0.887, P=0.018) was associated with lesser reduction in sexual desire compared with the aforementioned factors. Conclusion This survey showed that a high proportion of Chinese middle-aged and old women have lowered sexual desire and activity. Lack of sexual desire is associated with multiple factors and affects the quality of life of women.

Highlights

Ye Zhu,1 Xin Yang,1 Xiangling Fan,2 Yange Sun,3 Cheng Tan,1 Yanjie Wang,4 Wei Zhu,5 and Dandan Ren 5
Muscle and joint pain (45.8%) and vaginal pruritus (21.5%) were the most commonly reported menopausal and vulvovaginal symptoms, respectively. e odds of decrease in sexual desire were significantly higher with older age, menopause, presence of gynecological disease, menopausal depression symptoms, menopausal vasomotor symptoms, and vulvovaginal atrophy; only cesarean delivery was associated with lesser reduction in sexual desire compared with the aforementioned factors
Several studies have determined the prevalence of low sexual desire or Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) and its risk factors [7,8,9,10,11]

Summary

Introduction

Ye Zhu ,1 Xin Yang ,1 Xiangling Fan ,2 Yange Sun ,3 Cheng Tan ,1 Yanjie Wang ,4 Wei Zhu ,5 and Dandan Ren 5. Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is described as “persistent absence of sexual fantasy or lack of sexual desire; and causing marked stress or interpersonal difficulties” by the 2016 International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health consensus [5]. As it is the most common of the 4 disorders in FSD and affects approximately 10% of adult women worldwide [5], it should be carefully assessed and treated by healthcare professionals [6]. In the study by West et al, the incidence of low sexual desire was lower in premenopausal women than in women with natural or surgical menopause (26.7% vs 52.4% and 39.7%). A lower proportion of women with natural menopause reported HSDD compared with premenopausal

Methods

Results

Conclusion