Sexual function of women with premature ovarian failure.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the sexual function of women with premature ovarian failure (POF).


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate 58 women with a diagnosis of POF compared with a control group composed of 58 women of reproductive age with normal ovarian function, paired for age (±2 y). Sexual function was evaluated in the two groups using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).


RESULTS
The mean ± SD age of the women in the POF and control groups was 39.4 ± 6.5 and 39.0 ± 6.8 years, respectively. Mean ± SD FSFI score was 24.0 ± 6.0 and 27.3 ± 4.8 in the POF and control groups, respectively. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction (total FSFI score ≤ 26.55) in the POF group was 62.1% (n = 36) compared with 37.8% (n = 22) in the control group (P = 0.0093). In the analysis of domains, the only domain in which no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups was desire. For the domains of arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain, scores were significantly lower, hence poorer, in the group of women with POF compared with the control group. Belonging to the POF group increased a woman's likelihood of having sexual dysfunction by 2.8-fold (OR = 2.78, IC 1.29 to 5.98, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Women with POF had a higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction compared with women with normal gonadal function and more difficulties in relation to satisfaction, lubrication, orgasm, pain, and arousal; however, there were no differences between the two groups with respect to desire.
Department of Gynecology and Obstetric, School of Medicine, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. deh_almeida@yahoo.com.br
Deborah Marçal Bueno
DM
de Almeida
Cristina Laguna
CL
Benetti-Pinto
Maria Yolanda
MY
Makuch
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009948:Orgasm; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires