Quality of Sexual Life in Iranian Women with Diabetes: Psychosocial and Cultural Aspects

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent chronic worldwide disease, and sexual dysfunction is a common complication of this disease. Diabetes and its disabling complications often threaten sexual life. Despite the critical role of the psychosocial and cultural issues in the quality of sexual life in women with diabetes, these aspects have not yet been adequately addressed. This study aimed to explore the psychosocial and cultural aspects of the sexual life quality of women with diabetes in reproductive ages. Purposeful sampling was performed in two diabetes clinics and three physicians' offices in Tehran. After 29 In-depth interviews (25 women with diabetes and four key informants), data saturation was achieved. The qualitative content analysis method by Granheim and Lundman was used for data analysis, and consequently, two themes emerged. The first theme, "The dominant role of sociocultural context," consisted of two categories: "The influence of diabetes stigma on sexual identity" and "preferred silence." The second theme was "The burden of psychological distress on sexual life," which included three categories: "diabetes distress," "distress regarding social and health services unmet needs," and "stress management ability." Preferred silence to sexual problems was identified as the dominant sexual coping strategy of Iranian women with diabetes. This identification is an achievement of this study regarding the first theme. Thus, screening the quality of sexual life in women with diabetes is suggested. According to the second theme, psychological, sexual, and family planning health care integrated with medical diabetes care in diabetes clinics is recommended.