Women's Sexual Issues After Myocardial Infarction: A Literature Review.
BACKGROUND
Sexual activity after myocardial infarction (MI) is a concern for patients and often a challenge for health care professionals to address. It is widely recognized that most patients, of both sexes, report sexual problems or concerns after MI. However, there are reported differences between men and women. Women with sexual concerns may seek less help from health care providers and are more inclined to conceal them because of cultural barriers.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the current study is to present a comprehensive review of the literature describing women's sexual issues after MI.


METHODS
A systematic search of the relevant literature was performed within international databases, including PubMed/Medline, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest, as well as Google Scholar using relevant keywords. Also, Persian electronic databases such as Magiran, Scientific Information Databases, and Iran Medex were searched from the inception to October 2014. Articles focusing on the sexual issues after MI only in women, as well as articles on both sexes where women's results could be separated, were included in this review.


RESULTS
A total of 8 articles were included in the final dataset. The main themes of women's sexual concerns after MI were "loss or decrease of sexual activity," "dissatisfaction of sexual relationship," "doubt about resumption time of sexual activity," "fear of reinfarction or sudden death during sexual activity after MI," "knowledge deficit regarding sexual activity after MI," and "poor performance of health care providers in sexual counseling."


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this review demonstrate that women's post-MI sexual activity is affected by many concerns. The concerns may be a knowledge deficit related to not receiving necessary consultation on this topic. Nurses, as first-line care givers, can provide appropriate consultation and education for patients post-MI. As a result, breaking taboo imposed by cultural barriers, personal assumptions, or lack of confidence on giving sexual consultation may ultimately help patients to improve their quality of life.
Amir Emami Zeydi, MSN, CCRN, graduated with a bachelor of science degree in nursing in 2008 and master of science degree in critical care nursing in 2011 from Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. Currently, he is a PhD candidate in nursing at the Mashhad School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Mohammad Sharafkhani, BSN, graduated with a bachelor of science degree in nursing in 2013 from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Currently, he is a master of science student in medical-surgical nursing at the Mashhad School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, and working as a clinical nurse in the coronary care unit at Imam Zaman Hospital in Mashhad, Iran. Mohammad Reza Armat, MSN, graduated from the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 1991 with a bachelor of science degree in nursing. He completed his master of science degree in nursing at Tarbiat Modarres University in 1995. He is an instructor in North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnourd, Iran. Currently, he is a PhD candidate in nursing at the Mashhad School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Kathleen Ahern Gould, PhD, RN, serves as adjunct faculty at the William F. Connell School of Nursing at Boston College and serves as the editor in chief of Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing. Aria Soleimani, MD, received his medical degree from Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 1993. He did his postgraduate training (residency) in anesthesiology at the Babol University of Medical Sciences in 2003 and cardiac anesthesia fellowship at Iran University of Medical Sciences in 2005. He is currently dean of faculty of medicine and served as an assistant professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine at Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. Seyed Javad Hosseini, MSN, graduated with a bachelor of science degree in nursing in 2012 and master of scien
Amir
A
Emami Zeydi
Mohammad
M
Sharafkhani
Mohammad Reza
MR
Armat
Kathleen Ahern
KA
Gould
Aria
A
Soleimani
Seyed Javad
SJ
Hosseini
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012731:Sex Counseling; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*