Larissa R Brunner Huber1, Whitney A Stanley2, Leah Broadhurst2, Jacek Dmochowski3, Tara M Vick4, Delia Scholes5. 1. Department of Public Health Sciences, UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, NC. Electronic address: lrhuber@uncc.edu. 2. Department of Public Health Sciences, UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, NC. 3. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, NC. 4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC. 5. Group Health Research Institute, Group Health Cooperative, Seattle, WA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study aimed to describe the frequency of sexual intercourse and whether body size was associated with weekly sexual intercourse among a diverse group of women using oral contraceptives. METHODS: This longitudinal prospective cohort study recruited participants (n = 185) from several clinics in Charlotte, NC. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were used as measures of body size and sexual intercourse frequency was determined from self-reported information provided on daily diaries. Mean monthly frequencies of sexual intercourse were calculated and linear mixed models were used to assess if means remained constant over time. Generalized estimating equations were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Mean monthly frequency of sexual intercourse was similar for women classified as normal or underweight or obese by BMI during each month of data collection but was highest for women classified as overweight. After adjustment, obesity-sexual intercourse associations were attenuated (BMI ≥30 vs. <25.0: OR = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.43-1.42 and WHR ≥ 0.85 vs. <0.85: OR = 1.11; 95% CI, 0.62-2.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study found no association between BMI or WHR and weekly sexual intercourse. However, more research is warranted given the importance of this possible relationship for future studies of fertility, contraceptive effectiveness, and sexual health.
PURPOSE: This study aimed to describe the frequency of sexual intercourse and whether body size was associated with weekly sexual intercourse among a diverse group of women using oral contraceptives. METHODS: This longitudinal prospective cohort study recruited participants (n = 185) from several clinics in Charlotte, NC. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were used as measures of body size and sexual intercourse frequency was determined from self-reported information provided on daily diaries. Mean monthly frequencies of sexual intercourse were calculated and linear mixed models were used to assess if means remained constant over time. Generalized estimating equations were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Mean monthly frequency of sexual intercourse was similar for women classified as normal or underweight or obese by BMI during each month of data collection but was highest for women classified as overweight. After adjustment, obesity-sexual intercourse associations were attenuated (BMI ≥30 vs. <25.0: OR = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.43-1.42 and WHR ≥ 0.85 vs. <0.85: OR = 1.11; 95% CI, 0.62-2.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study found no association between BMI or WHR and weekly sexual intercourse. However, more research is warranted given the importance of this possible relationship for future studies of fertility, contraceptive effectiveness, and sexual health.
Authors: Maria F Gallo; Laureen M Lopez; David A Grimes; Florence Carayon; Kenneth F Schulz; Frans M Helmerhorst Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2014-01-29