Patterns of female sexual dysfunction in upper Egypt: a cross-sectional direct questionaire-based study of 521 married women

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Sexuality incorporates familial, social and religious beliefs, and is affected by age, health status and personal experience. Sexual response is much less studied in females as compared to males, and epidemiologic data on female sexual dysfunction (FSD) are limited. The objective of this work was to study the pattern of FSD in Upper Egypt and its correlation with socio-demographic data. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 521 married women attending maternal and child health care centers and family planning centers in Sohag Governorate, Upper Egypt. Socio-demographic data were obtained from participants. A direct interview of participants was done using a modified version of Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. The later covered 6 sexual domains in females (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain). The answers were scored by FSFI Domain score with full scale score ranging from 2 to 36. RESULTS: In our study, 385 women (74%) had FSD. Out of 385 women, 99 (26%) had arousal problems, 116 (30%) had lubrication problems, 128 (33%) had sexual pain disorders, 141 (37%) had desire problems, 196 (51%) had orgasmic problems and 190 (49%) were not sexually satisfied. Circumcision was reported in 347/385 (90%) of women with FSD and 127/136 (93%) of women without FSD. Comparison between women with and without FSD is shown in table1. CONCLUSIONS: In upper Egypt, 74% of women had one or more sexual problems. Orgasmic problems were the commonest FSD in our study. However, the percent of circumcision was high amongst women with and without FSD.Table1Comparison between 2 study groupsParametersWomen with FSD (N=385)Women without FSD (N=136)P valueAge (Yrs)30 ± 626 ± 6<0.001Duration of marriage (Yrs)9 ± 67 ± 60.004Frequency of intercourse/ w2.5 ± 23.5 ± 2<0.001FSFI full scale score24 ± 1.933 ± 1.7<0.0001Values are expressed as mean ± SD. P value <0.05 was significant. Open table in a new tab Values are expressed as mean ± SD. P value <0.05 was significant.