title: Evaluation of sexuality in a Paraguayan mid-aged female urban population using the six-item Female Sexual Function Index.
abstract: Background There are scant data related to sexuality assessed among mid-aged women from Paraguay. Objective To assess sexual function in a sample of mid-aged Paraguayan women. Methods This was a cross-sectional study in which 265 urban-living women from Asunción (Paraguay) aged 40-65 years were surveyed with the six-item version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-6) and a questionnaire containing personal and partner data. Results The median age of the sample was 48 years, 48.2% were postmenopausal (median/interquartile range age at menopause 46/13 years), 11.3% used hormone therapy, 37.0% used psychotropic drugs, 44.5% had hypertension, 7.2% diabetes, 46.1% abdominal obesity and 89.4% had a partner (n = 237). Overall, 84.1% (223/265) of surveyed women were sexually active, presenting a median total FSFI-6 score of 23.0, and 25.6% obtained a total score of 19 or less, suggestive of sexual dysfunction (lower sexual function). Upon bivariate analysis, several factors were associated with lower total FSFI-6 scores; however, multiple linear regression analysis found that lower total FSFI-6 scores (worse sexual function) were significantly correlated to the postmenopausal status and having an older partner, whereas coital frequency was positively correlated to higher scores (better sexual function). Conclusion In this pilot sample of urban-living, mid-aged Paraguayan women, as determined with the FSFI-6, lower sexual function was related to menopausal status, coital frequency and partner age. There is a need for more research in this regard in this population.
authors.affiliation: a Hospital Central, Dr. Emilio Cubas, Instituto de Previsión Social , Asunción , Paraguay ;
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Biomedicine, Research Area for Women's Health, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil , Guayaquil , Ecuador ;
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chedraui
authors.affiliation: c Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Zaragoza, Faculty of Medicine and Lozano-Blesa University Hospital , Zaragoza , Spain ;
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Pérez-López
authors.affiliation: a Hospital Central, Dr. Emilio Cubas, Instituto de Previsión Social , Asunción , Paraguay ;
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Benegas
authors.affiliation: d Facultad Ciencias de la Salud , Universidad Católica de Asunción , Asunción , Paraguay.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Palacios-De Franco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003075:Coitus; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010239:Paraguay / Q000453:epidemiology; D017698:Postmenopause; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012747:Sexual Partners; D019529:Sexuality / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: Paraguay; Sexuality assessment; menopausal sexuality; mid-age; risk factors; six-item Female Sexual Function Index