title: Evaluation of sexual attitude and sexual function in menopausal age; a population based cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Menopause and its physical, hormonal and psychosocial changes could affect women's sexual function. There are controversial results regarding relationship between sexual attitudes and function.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to evaluate sexual attitudes and sexual function among Iranian menopausal age women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This population based cross-sectional study was carried out on 225 menopausal women, aged 45-65 years. Based on a self-made questionnaire data were collected about women's socio-demographic characteristics, attitudes regarding sexuality and sexual function. Data were analyzed using SPSS and sexual function was compared between three groups of women who had positive, medium and negative attitudes regarding sexuality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of women was 53.11±4.56 years. Seventy percent of them had at least one sexual problem. Feeling of dyspareunia was significantly different between three categories of attitudes regarding sexuality (p=0.03). Comparing data obtained on their attitudes, sexual desire, orgasm and dyspareunia demonstrated significant differences (p=0.03, 0.04, and 0.04 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Attitude regarding sexual function has a great impact on sexual activity of postmenopausal women that need to be considered in their health care programming.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Somayeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hashemi
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fahimeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ramezani Tehrani
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ; Department of Reproductive Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Masumeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simbar
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Health Care Department, Deputy of Health, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehrandokht
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abedini
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bahreinian
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Roya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gholami
keywords: Attitude; Menopause; Sexualbehavior