Sexual Functioning among Married Iranian Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to assess sexual functioning among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Iran.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted to ascertain factors re- lated to sexual functioning in 300 PCOS patients attending to the private practice centers in Kashan, Isfahan Province, Iran, from May to October 2012. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was used to measure sexual functioning. Moreover, the socio-demo-graphic details and clinical information of PCOS including obesity, hirsutism, acne, mestrual cycle disturbances, infertility and endocrine profile were recorded for each patient.


RESULTS
Overall the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) was 16.6%. In particular patients indicated poorer sexual functioning for the desire (48.3%) and the arousal (44.7%) subscales. Multiple logistic regression analysis suggested patients with lower educational level (OR: 2.94; 95% CI: 1.46-5.92) and irregular menstrual status (OR: 4.61; 95% CI: 1.93-11) were more likely to report sexual dysfunction.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that desire and arousal were the most prevalent sexual disorders reported in this patient population. In addition, findings suggested that women with limited or no formal education and a history of menstrual irregularities were the most likely to report female sexual dysfunction. Further investigations are needed to examine female sexual functioning among women with PCOS, to educate their health care providers, and to develop therapeutic interventions.
Hormozgan Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandarabbas, Iran.
Fatemeh
F
Bazarganipour
Faculty of Medical Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
Saeideh
S
Ziaei
Mental Health Research Group, Health Metrics Research Center, Iranian Institute for Health Sciences Research, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
Ali
A
Montazeri
Gametogenesis Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
Fatemeh
F
Foroozanfard
Department of Biostatistics, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
Anoshirvan
A
Kazemnejad
Faculty of Medical Sciences, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
Soghrat
S
Faghihzadeh
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Sexual Dysfunction; Women