The prevalence of sexual dysfunction and potential risk factors that may impair sexual function in Malaysian women.
BACKGROUND
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.


OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Sidi
Hatta
H
Department of Psychiatry, National University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. hattasidi@hotmail.com
Puteh
Sharifah Ezat Wan
SE
Abdullah
Norni
N
Midin
Marhani
M
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009948:Orgasm; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016387:Women's Health; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration