Hypoactive sexual desire dysfunction in community-dwelling older women.
To determine the prevalence of hypoactive sexual desire dysfunction (HSDD) and its associated factors in women aged 65 to 79 years.



A questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study was conducted amongst community-dwelling older women. Participants were recruited between April and August 2014 from a national database based on electoral rolls. Sexual function and sexual distress were assessed by the Female Sexual Function Index and the Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised, respectively. HSDD was defined as the presence of both low sexual desire and sexually related personal distress.



The mean ± SD age of the 1,548 women was 71 ± 3.4 years and 52.6% were partnered. Among the participants, 88.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 86.3%-89.6%) had low sexual desire, 15.5% (95% CI, 13.8%-17.4%) had sexually related personal distress, and 13.6% (95% CI, 11.9%-15.4%) had HSDD. The HSDD was more common among partnered than among unpartnered women (23.7% vs 5.9%; P < 0.001). Being partnered (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.21; 95% CI, 2.50-7.07), having vaginal dryness during intercourse (AOR = 2.37; 95% CI, 1.58-3.55), having symptomatic pelvic floor dysfunction (AOR = 1.92; 95% CI, 1.29-2.92), and having moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms (AOR = 4.15; 95% CI, 2.16-7.96) were independently associated with having HSDD. In a subanalysis, HSDD was more common among sexually active than sexually inactive women (31.5% vs 17.3%; P < 0.001). Furthermore, 32% (95% CI, 27.7%-38.3%) of partnered sexually active women had HSDD, as did 22% (95% CI, 11.5%-37.8%) of unpartnered sexually active women.



HSDD is common and associated with potentially modifiable risk factors in older women. It should not be assumed that unpartnered older women are sexually inactive or are not distressed by low sexual desire.
1Women's Health Research Program, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 2Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia 3Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Berihun M
BM
Zeleke
Robin J
RJ
Bell
Baki
B
Billah
Susan R
SR
Davis
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D017533:Marital Status; D059952:Pelvic Floor Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014621:Vagina / Q000503:physiopathology