[Sexual function in postmenopausal women using hormone replacement therapy].
BACKGROUND
The loss of sexuality observed in the climacteric period is difficult to evaluate. An important advance has been the development of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), a test based on the norms of the International Consensus Development Conference on Sexual Female Dysfunctions.


OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on sexuality, applying the FSFI.


METHODS
The FSFI was applied to 300 healthy women between 45-64 years, sexually active, beneficiaries of the Southern Metropolitan Health Service.


RESULTS
The mean age of the sample studied was 51 +/- 5 years, 27% were HRT users, 21% had had an hysterectomy and 98% had a stable couple. The total score of the FSFI decreased from 27.3 +/- 5.8 in women between 45 and 49 years of age to 19.3 +/- 7.0 in women between 60 and 64 years (p < 0.01). A significantly better sexuality was observed in HRT users, with FSFI scores of 28.1 +/- 5.5 and 24.6 +/- 6.8 in HRT users and non users, respectively (p < 0.01). Women on HRT obtained a higher score in all of the test domains, especially in lubrication, orgasm and sexual satisfaction.


CONCLUSIONS
Female sexuality decreases with aging. HRT users have a better sexual function than non users.
Blumel
Juan E
JE
Departamento Medicina Sur, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Hospital Barros Luco-Trudeau.
Bravo
Francisca
F
Recavarren
Marcia
M
Sarrá
Salvador
S
D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009948:Orgasm / Q000187:drug effects; D017698:Postmenopause; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D019529:Sexuality / Q000187:drug effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires