Sexual functioning among women with and without diabetes in the Boston Area Community Health Study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine sexual dysfunction among women with and without diabetes in a community-based sample of women aged 30-79 years.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of survey responses of female participants in the Boston Area Community Health Study, a community-based random sample, who answered questions regarding sexual functioning and diabetes status and also reported sexual activity (n = 1,291). Associations between diabetes and overall sexual function as well as domain of sexual function were examined in multivariable linear regression models.


RESULTS
Women with type 2 diabetes (n = 75) were older, less often white, and more likely to have decreased physical activity levels, elevated body mass index, and cardiovascular disease than women without diabetes (n = 1,190). Women with type 1 diabetes (n = 26) were similar to women without diabetes except for higher depression scores and lower levels of activity. Age, marital status, and depressive symptoms were correlated with overall sexual function. After adjustment for age and race, women with and without diabetes had similar arousal, lubrication, orgasm, dyspareunia, satisfaction, and desire. After further adjustment for other factors, including age, depression, and marital status, women with type 1 diabetes had increased dyspareunia compared with women without diabetes, and women with type 2 diabetes had similar functioning to women without diabetes.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with type 2 diabetes may have similar sexual functioning to women without diabetes, although women with type 1 diabetes may more often have dyspareunia. Factors such as depression, which are common in women with diabetes, are more strongly related to sexual dysfunction than diabetes status.
Wallner
Lauren P
LP
Department of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Sarma
Aruna V
AV
Kim
Catherine
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011594:Psychometrics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019529:Sexuality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires