DETERMINATION OF SEXUAL DISTRESS AND SEXUAL LIFE QUALITY IN INFERTILE WOMEN

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the sexual distress, quality of sexual life and the relationship between them in infertile women. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the infertility polyclinic of a university hospital located in an eastern city of Turkey between June 2016 and January 2018. The study sample included 198 infertile female patients who consented for participation in the study, fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and visited the polyclinic between 30th June and 30th September 2016. The Questionnaire, Female Sexual Distress Scale, and Sexual Quality of Life Scale-Female were used to collect the data. Results: The mean score on the Sexual Distress Scale was 10.37±9.01 and mean score on the Sexual Quality of Life– Female Scale was 71.79±19.46. In women without sexual distress, the mean score on the Sexual Quality of Life– Female Scale was 86.70±8.06, whereas for women with sexual distress, the mean score on the Sexual Quality of Life– Female Scale was 58.32±16.73. The difference between the groups was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). In addition, a significantly strong negative correlation was found between the mean scores on the Sexual Distress Scale and Sexual Quality of Life – Female Scales (r:-0.827, p<0.001). Conclusion: Although about half of the infertile women were under sexual distress, their sexual distress levels were low, and their sexual quality of life was relatively high. Women under sexual distress were found to have low sexual quality of life. As the level of sexual distress increased, the sexual quality of life decreased significantly.