INTRODUCTION: Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a prevalent sexual health problem that does not spare the women in Malaysia, a nation with a conservative multiethnic society. AIM: To investigate the prevalence of FSD and the potential risk factors that may impair sexual function among women at a primary care setting in Malaysia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The prevalence, the risk factors, and the main predictors for FSD were measured among these women. METHODS: A validated Malay version of the Female Sexual Function Index was used to assess FSD. A total of 230 married women aged 18-70 years participated in this study. The sociodemographic and marital profiles of women who had FSD and those who did not were compared; the risk factors for FSD were determined. RESULTS: The majority of the respondents were younger than 50 years old, predominantly Malays, and had a higher academic achievement. The prevalence of FSD in the primary care population was 29.6%. The prevalence of women with lack of orgasms, low sexual arousal, lack of lubrication, sexual dissatisfaction, and sexual pain were 59.1%, 60.9%, 50.4%, 52.2%, and 67.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The risk factors for FSD are older age, Malays, married longer (more than 14 years), having less sexual intercourse (less than 1-2 times a week), having more children, married to an older husband (aged >42 years), and having a higher academic status. Lack of lubrication is found to be the main predictor for FSD in this study. Is lack of lubrication a cause or a complication of FSD? Prospective research is needed in the near future.
INTRODUCTION: Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a prevalent sexual health problem that does not spare the women in Malaysia, a nation with a conservative multiethnic society. AIM: To investigate the prevalence of FSD and the potential risk factors that may impair sexual function among women at a primary care setting in Malaysia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The prevalence, the risk factors, and the main predictors for FSD were measured among these women. METHODS: A validated Malay version of the Female Sexual Function Index was used to assess FSD. A total of 230 married women aged 18-70 years participated in this study. The sociodemographic and marital profiles of women who had FSD and those who did not were compared; the risk factors for FSD were determined. RESULTS: The majority of the respondents were younger than 50 years old, predominantly Malays, and had a higher academic achievement. The prevalence of FSD in the primary care population was 29.6%. The prevalence of women with lack of orgasms, low sexual arousal, lack of lubrication, sexual dissatisfaction, and sexual pain were 59.1%, 60.9%, 50.4%, 52.2%, and 67.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The risk factors for FSD are older age, Malays, married longer (more than 14 years), having less sexual intercourse (less than 1-2 times a week), having more children, married to an older husband (aged >42 years), and having a higher academic status. Lack of lubrication is found to be the main predictor for FSD in this study. Is lack of lubrication a cause or a complication of FSD? Prospective research is needed in the near future.
Authors: Marina Taloyan; Alexandre Wajngot; Sven-Erik Johansson; Jonas Tovi; Jan Sundquist Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2010-09-08 Impact factor: 3.295