Sexual dysfunction in women with type 1 diabetes: long-term findings from the DCCT/ EDIC study cohort.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors associated with sexual dysfunction in a well-characterized cohort of women with type 1 diabetes.


METHODS
The study was conducted in women enrolled in the long-term Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) study, a North American study of men and women with type 1 diabetes. At year 10 of the EDIC study, 652 female participants were invited to complete a validated self-report measure of sexual function, standardized history and physical examinations, laboratory testing, and mood assessment.


RESULTS
Of the sexually active women with type 1 diabetes in the EDIC study, 35% met criteria for female sexual dysfunction (FSD). Women with FSD reported loss of libido (57%); problems with orgasm (51%), lubrication (47%), and arousal (38%); and pain (21%). Univariate analyses revealed a positive association between FSD and age (P = 0.0041), marital status (P = 0.0016), menopausal status (P = 0.0019), microvasculopathy (P = 0.0092), and depression (P = 0.0022). However, in a multivariate analysis, only depression (P = 0.004) and marital status (P = 0.003) were significant predictors of FSD.


CONCLUSIONS
FSD is common in women with type 1 diabetes and affects all aspects of sexual function and satisfaction. Depression is the major predictor of sexual dysfunction in women with type 1 diabetes. These findings suggest that women with type 1 diabetes should be routinely queried about the presence of sexual dysfunction and possible co-association with depression.
Enzlin
Paul
P
Department of Psychiatry, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven & University Hospitals Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium. paul.enzlin@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
Rosen
Raymond
R
Wiegel
Markus
M
Brown
Jeanette
J
Wessells
Hunter
H
Gatcomb
Patricia
P
Rutledge
Brandy
B
Chan
Ka-Ling
KL
Cleary
Patricia A
PA
D000328:Adult; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000453:epidemiology; D003404:Creatinine / Q000378:metabolism; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000523:psychology*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000453:epidemiology; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000453:epidemiology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D007989:Libido; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology
D003404:Creatinine; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin