title: Effects of vaginal discharge on female sexual function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of vaginal discharge on female sexual dysfunction (FSD) by using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a study at a university hospital in Canakkale, Turkey, women affected by vaginal discharge and age-matched healthy control women were recruited between January and December 2012. Women were grouped in accordance with their vaginal discharge complaints and each participant completed the FSFI questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 114 women were included in the study. Women in the first group (n=58) had no vaginal discharge or had physiologic vaginal discharge, those in the second group (n=29) had abnormal vaginal discharge with itching, and those in the third group (n=27) had abnormal vaginal discharge without itching. Compared with the first group, women in the second and third groups had higher FSFI scores for desire, arousal, orgasm, and pain, in addition to higher overall FSFI scores. Women with genital malodor had significantly higher FSFI scores than patients without genital malodor (23.83 ± 5.07 vs 21.15 ± 4.78; P=0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with abnormal vaginal discharges were found to have better FSFI scores for some domains. This finding may be attributed to the adverse effects of sexual intercourse on vaginal infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Hospital, Canakkale, Turkey. Electronic address: dr_aysecakir@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ayse N C
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Gungor
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Hospital, Canakkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aysegul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uludag
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Hospital, Canakkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Melih
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Hospital, Canakkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Meryem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gencer
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Hospital, Canakkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uysal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D019522:Vaginal Discharge / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Female Sexual Function Index; Itching; Sexual dysfunction; Vaginal discharge