title: Physical activity and sexual function in middle-aged women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between physical activity level and sexual function in middle-aged women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study with a sample of 370 middle-aged women (40-65 years old), treated at public health care facilities in a Brazilian city. A questionnaire was used containing enquiries on sociodemographic, clinical and behavioral characteristics: the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), short form, and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age of the women studied was 49.8 years (± 8.1), 67% of whom exhibited sexual dysfunction (FSFI ≤ 26.55). Sedentary women had a higher prevalence (78.9%) of sexual dysfunction when compared to active (57.6%) and moderately active (66.7%) females (p = 0.002). Physically active women obtained higher score in all FSFI domains (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain) and total FSFI score (20.9), indicating better sexual function than their moderately active (18.8) and sedentary (15.6) counterparts (p <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical activity appears to influence sexual function positively in middle-aged women.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Uchôa Leitão
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Carla Gomes M D
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Canário
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Helena Constantino
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Spyrides
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Severina Alice da Costa
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Uchôa
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eleutério Júnior
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Cesar
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Giraldo
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Katherine
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000523:psychology*; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires