title: Factors affecting sexual function in menopause: A review article.
abstract: This study aimed to systematically review the articles on factors affecting sexual function during menopause. Searching articles indexed in Pubmed, Science Direct, Iranmedex, EMBASE, Scopus, and Scientific Information Database databases, a total number of 42 studies published between 2003 and 2013 were selected. Age, estrogen deficiency, type of menopause, chronic medical problems, partner's sex problems, severity of menopause symptoms, dystocia history, and health status were the physical factors influencing sexual function of menopausal women. There were conflicting results regarding the amount of androgens, hormonal therapy, exercise/physical activity, and obstetric history. In the mental-emotional area, all studies confirmed the impact of depression and anxiety. Social factors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, the quality of relationship with husband, partner's loyalty, sexual knowledge, access to health care, a history of divorce or the death of a husband, living apart from a spouse, and a negative understanding of women's health were found to affect sexual function; however, there were conflicting results regarding the effects of education, occupation, socioeconomic status, marital duration, and frequency of sexual intercourse.
authors: Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Islamic Azad University, Chalus Branch, Chalus, Iran.
authors: Soheila
authors: S
authors: Nazarpour
authors: Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: msimbar@gmail.com.
authors: Masoumeh
authors: M
authors: Simbar
authors: Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Fahimeh Ramezani
authors: FR
authors: Tehrani
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000523:psychology*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology
keywords: effective factors; menopause; sexual function; systematic review