The sexual function of peri- and post-menopausal women presenting with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

The objective of the present work was to estimate the influence of the compensation of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and its late complications on the sexual function of the women presenting with type 2 diabetes mellitus during the peri- and post-menopausal periods. The sexual function was studied in 368 women with DM2 and in 314 ones without disturbances of carbohydrate metabolism (controls) using the Women's Sexual Function Questionnaire developed by F.H. Quirk in 2002. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in the groups of DM2 women and controls was estimated at 52.2% and 30.9% respectively (p<0.001). The women with DM2 reported the lower quality of intimate relationships with the partner (p = 0.003) and lower satisfaction with the sexual quality of life (p=0.007) compared with the control respondents. The risk of sexual dysfunction in the women with type 2 diabetes mellitus increased by 2.4 times (p<0.001), in those with diabetic polyneuropathy by 4.8 times, and in the women with the blood glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level in excess of 7.0% by 2.3 times (p=0.012). It is concluded that type 2 diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor of sexual dysfunction during the peri- and post-menopausal periods. Other risk factors are constituted by diabetic polyneuropathy and elevated HbA1c level (>7.0%).