title: Sexual Function and Exercise in Postmenopausal Women Residing in Chalous and Nowshahr, Northern Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The sexual function of menopausal women is influenced by several factors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate the association between exercise and sexual function among postmenopausal women residing in Northern Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a multistage, randomized sampling method, 405 postmenopausal women, aged 40 to 65 years, were recruited to participate in this population-based, cross-sectional study. The female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire and a researcher-designed questionnaire were completed by every subject.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 61% of the women reported having experienced sexual dysfunction, and 53.6% reported that they had not performed any kind of exercise within the last 6 months; among those who did exercise, the most common form was walking (79.8%). The FSFI total scores (P = 0.013), as well as the scores in the lubrication (P = 0.007) and pain (P < 0.001) domains, were significantly lower for the women who performed exercises other than walking compared to those who only walked or who did not exercise at all. The frequency of weekly exercise had a positive correlation with the scores in the lubrication (r = 0.18, P = 0.014) and orgasm (r = 0.146, P = 0.045) domains. The logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the chances of reduced sexual desire were decreased by 80.2% (P = 0.044) with every unit increase in the frequency of weekly exercise.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More frequent exercise will improve the sexual function of post-menopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Soheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nazarpour
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Masomeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simbar
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Fahimeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ramezani Tehrani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Paramedicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alavi Majd
keywords: Exercise; Menopause; Sexual Dysfunction