| Literature DB >> 33866884 |
Keiko Okumura1, Hirokazu Takeda1, Toshikazu Otani2.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Female sexual dysfunction is an underestimated problem that negatively affects women's quality of life. Although the overall prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women is high, only a few studies have focused on this problem. In Japan, an index of female sexual function has not been clearly defined. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the sexual function of normal Japanese women and the temporal changes they experienced using the Female Sexual Function Index administered online in 2012 and 2019.Entities:
Keywords: Female Sexual Function Index; Internet; Japanese; female sexual function; relationship
Year: 2021 PMID: 33866884 PMCID: PMC8058786 DOI: 10.1177/17455065211009103
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Womens Health (Lond) ISSN: 1745-5057
Collected data based on Japan’s population distribution.
| Age | 2012, | 2019, |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 141 (13.6) | 132 (12.8) |
| 1930s | 188 (18.2) | 167 (16.2) |
| 1940s | 176 (17.0) | 198 (19.2) |
| 1950s | 175 (16.9) | 168 (16.3) |
| 1960s | 201 (19.4) | 201 (19.5) |
| 1970s | 153 (14.8) | 165 (16.0) |
This table presents the number of people (%).
Background of participants.
| 2012 ( | 2019 ( | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) (mean ± SD) | 49.2 ± 15.9 | 50.0 ± 15.7 | 0.250 |
| Unmarried, | 310 (30.0%) | 327 (31.7%) | 0.393 |
| Have children, | 730 (70.6%) | 713 (62.9%) | 0.475 |
| Housewife, | 468 (45.3%) | 386 (37.4%) | <0.001 |
| Part-time job, | 192 (18.6%) | 239 (23.2%) | 0.010 |
| Housewife and part-time job, | 660 (63.8%) | 625 (60.6%) | 0.133 |
SD: standard deviation.
The number of respondents who were housewives significantly decreased from 468 (45.3%) in 2012 to 386 (37.4%) in 2019 (p < 0.001), and the number of women engaged in part-time jobs significantly increased from 192 (18.6%) in 2012 to 239 in 2019 (23.2%) (p = 0.010).
There were many married women and the ratio of housewives to the total number of subjects was high.
Figure 1.FSFI total scores according to age in 2012 and 2019.
The average FSFI scores of the subjects in their 1940s, 1960s, and 1970s were significantly lower in 2019 than in 2012.
The number and ratio of people who answered “no sexual activity” over the past 3 months in Question 3.
| Age | 2012 % (the number of “no sexual activity”/total number) | 2019 % (the number of “no sexual activity”/total number) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 40.3% (417/1034) | 52.8% (544/1031) |
| 1920s | 13.5% (19/141) | 24.2% (32/132) |
| 1930s | 27.7% (52/188) | 34.1% (57/167) |
| 1940s | 30.1% (53/176) | 48.0% (95/198) |
| 1950s | 47.4% (83/175) | 52.4% (88/168) |
| 1960s | 54.2% (109/201) | 71.6% (144/201) |
| 1970s | 66.0% (101/153) | 77.6% (128/165) |
The ratio signifies an increase of approximately 10% in 7 years regardless of age.
Figure 2.Question 14: over the past 3 months, how satisfied have you been with the amount of emotional closeness during sexual activity between you and your partner?
Comparison of the sexual satisfaction scores according to age between 2012 and 2019 in Question 14 of FSFI. The ratio of women with “no partner” has not changed significantly (p = 0.616); however, those with “no sexual activity” significantly increased by 10% despite having a partner (p < 0.001).
Sexual function domains in the FSFI.
| Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domain | 2012 ( | 2019 ( | |
| Desire | 4.1 ± 1.8 | 3.9 ± 2.0 | 0.041 |
| Arousal | 6.0 ± 5.8 | 4.9 ± 5.8 | <0.001 |
| Lubrication | 8.0 ± 7.9 | 6.4 ± 7.7 | <0.001 |
| Orgasm | 5.3 ± 5.3 | 4.2 ± 5.1 | <0.001 |
| Satisfaction | 7.7 ± 4.1 | 7.4 ± 4.0 | 0.179 |
| Pain | 6.9 ± 6.5 | 5.5 ± 6.4 | <0.001 |
| Group with sexual activity | |||
| Domain | 2012 ( | 2019 ( | |
| Desire | 4.9 ± 1.6 | 5.2 ± 1.8 | 0.019 |
| Arousal | 10.0 ± 4.4 | 10.2 ± 4.4 | 0.563 |
| Lubrication | 13.7 ± 5.5 | 13.8 ± 5.5 | 0.899 |
| Orgasm | 8.7 ± 4.0 | 8.3 ± 4.0 | 0.661 |
| Satisfaction | 10.1 ± 3.3 | 10.5 ± 3.1 | 0.059 |
| Pain | 11.5 ± 4.3 | 11.2 ± 4.6 | 0.271 |
SD: standard deviation.
Regarding the domains of desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and pain, the average FSFI-J score of all the subjects was statistically significantly higher in 2012 than in 2019 (p < 0.05). However, for desire, the average FSFI-J score of women with sexual activity was statistically higher in 2019 than in 2012 (p = 0.019). However, no significant differences were observed in other domains between 2012 and 2019.
Figure 3.Relationship between women and their partners and their total FSFI-J scores.
The FSFI total score of a person who had a good relationship with their partner was high, whereas that of a person who had a bad relationship with their partner was low.
FSFI cutoff scores in foreign women and total scores in Japanese women.
| Reference | Survey period (years) | Survey target (participants) | Number of women | Average age (years) | Cutoff score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wiegel[ | 2000, 2003 | Control + women with sexual dysfunction | 568 | 36.2 ± 13.2 | 26.55 |
| Ma[ | 2011 | Urban Chinese woman with routine health surveillance | 500 | 38.44 ± 9.20 | 23.45 |
| Reference | Survey period (years) | Survey target (participants) | Number of women | Average age (years) | Total score |
| Takahashi[ | 2005–2006 | Healthy Japanese women engaged in a relationship with their partners | 126 | 36.5 | 22.03 ± 8.22 |
| Imamura[ | 2010 | Women who resumed intercourse 4–5 months after giving birth | 82 (total 152) | Overall average age 32.3 ± 4.6 | 21.77 ± 5.83 |
| Okumura[ | 2012 | Internet survey, the group with sexual activity | 567 | 44.9 ± 15.1 | 22.2 ± 6.7 |
| Iwata[ | 2017 | Kyoto University female students, from whom valid answers were received | 97 (total 385) | 21.0 ± 2.6 | 23.1 ± 8.2 |
| Okumura | 2019 | Internet survey, the group with sexual activity | 434 | 43.8 ± 14.9 | 22.4 ± 6.8 |